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
ذَٰلِكَ جَزَيْنَـٰهُم بِمَا كَفَرُوا۟ ۖ وَهَلْ نُجَـٰزِىٓ إِلَّا ٱلْكَفُورَ
[By] that We repaid them because they disbelieved. And do We [thus] repay except the ungrateful?
وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِنَ ٱلْقُرُونِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ نُوحٍ ۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِرَبِّكَ بِذُنُوبِ عِبَادِهِۦ خَبِيرًۢا بَصِيرًا
And how many have We destroyed from the generations after Noah. And sufficient is your Lord, concerning the sins of His servants, as Aware and Seeing.
وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكَ لَيَبْعَثَنَّ عَلَيْهِمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ مَن يَسُومُهُمْ سُوٓءَ ٱلْعَذَابِ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَسَرِيعُ ٱلْعِقَابِ ۖ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And [mention] when your Lord declared that He would surely [continue to] send upon them until the Day of Resurrection those who would afflict them with the worst torment. Indeed, your Lord is swift in penalty; but indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَمَاتُوا۟ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَعْنَةُ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ
Indeed, those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers - upon them will be the curse of Allāh and of the angels and the people, all together,