ثُمَّ جَآءَهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يُوعَدُونَ 206
Translations
And then there came to them that which they were promised?
Transliteration
Thumma jaa'ahum maa kanu yu'adun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the punishment and retribution that came upon the disbelieving nations after they rejected their messengers and persisted in denial. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that this verse emphasizes the certainty of Allah's promise—that those who mock and reject the truth will inevitably face the consequences they were warned about in this life and the Hereafter. Al-Tabari notes this is part of the recurring pattern throughout Surah Ash-Shu'ara where each nation receives the promised punishment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Ash-Shu'ara, which details the stories of various prophets and the fate of nations that rejected them. The verse comes at the conclusion of several narratives (Nuh, Hud, Salih, Lut, Shu'ayb) illustrating how Allah's warning and promise of punishment are always fulfilled, serving as warnings to the Quraysh who were similarly rejecting Prophet Muhammad.
Related Hadiths
Related to the theme of Allah's promise: The hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'When Allah intends good for a people, He hastens their punishment in this world, and when He intends ill for them, He withholds punishment until they meet Him on the Day of Judgment.' This emphasizes the certainty of divine justice.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that Allah's warnings are not empty threats but certain realities that will come to pass, encouraging us to heed divine guidance and warning others with conviction. It also instills hope in the hearts of believers that truth will ultimately prevail over falsehood, regardless of how powerful the opposition may seem.
Related Ayahs
فَإِن رَّجَعَكَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَىٰ طَآئِفَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ فَٱسْتَـْٔذَنُوكَ لِلْخُرُوجِ فَقُل لَّن تَخْرُجُوا۟ مَعِىَ أَبَدًا وَلَن تُقَـٰتِلُوا۟ مَعِىَ عَدُوًّا ۖ إِنَّكُمْ رَضِيتُم بِٱلْقُعُودِ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ فَٱقْعُدُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلْخَـٰلِفِينَ
If Allāh should return you to a faction of them [after the expedition] and then they ask your permission to go out [to battle], say, "You will not go out with me, ever, and you will never fight with me an enemy. Indeed, you were satisfied with sitting [at home] the first time, so sit [now] with those who stay behind."
قَالَ فَٱذْهَبْ فَإِنَّ لَكَ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ أَن تَقُولَ لَا مِسَاسَ ۖ وَإِنَّ لَكَ مَوْعِدًا لَّن تُخْلَفَهُۥ ۖ وَٱنظُرْ إِلَىٰٓ إِلَـٰهِكَ ٱلَّذِى ظَلْتَ عَلَيْهِ عَاكِفًا ۖ لَّنُحَرِّقَنَّهُۥ ثُمَّ لَنَنسِفَنَّهُۥ فِى ٱلْيَمِّ نَسْفًا
[Moses] said, "Then go. And indeed, it is [decreed] for you in [this] life to say, 'No contact.' And indeed, you have an appointment [in the Hereafter] you will not fail to keep. And look at your 'god' to which you remained devoted. We will surely burn it and blow it [i.e., its ashes] into the sea with a blast.
غَافِرِ ٱلذَّنۢبِ وَقَابِلِ ٱلتَّوْبِ شَدِيدِ ٱلْعِقَابِ ذِى ٱلطَّوْلِ ۖ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ إِلَيْهِ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
The forgiver of sin, acceptor of repentance, severe in punishment, owner of abundance. There is no deity except Him; to Him is the destination.
ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ أَنۢبَآءِ ٱلْقُرَىٰ نَقُصُّهُۥ عَلَيْكَ ۖ مِنْهَا قَآئِمٌ وَحَصِيدٌ
That is from the news of the cities, which We relate to you; of them, some are [still] standing and some are [as] a harvest [mowed down].