فَأَهْلَكْنَآ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُم بَطْشًا وَمَضَىٰ مَثَلُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ 8
Translations
And We destroyed greater than them in [striking] power, and the example of the former peoples has preceded.
Transliteration
Fa-ahlakna ashadda minhum batsshan wa-mada mathalu al-awwalin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes that Allah destroyed previous nations who were even mightier in power and military might than the Quraysh, yet their destruction came as a consequence of their disbelief and disobedience. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this serves as a warning to the contemporary disbelievers that no amount of worldly strength can protect them from Allah's punishment. The phrase 'and the example of the former peoples has passed' underscores that history itself testifies to this divine pattern of accountability.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Az-Zukhruf, which addresses the polytheists of Mecca who relied on their wealth, power, and ancestral traditions. The broader context of this surah involves refuting false beliefs about partners to Allah and reminding the disbelievers of the fate of previous nations who rejected their prophets. This specific ayah follows a discussion of how the Quraysh had rejected the message despite the clarity of signs.
Related Hadiths
The general principle is supported by Quran 40:21: 'Have they not traveled through the land and seen how was the end of those before them?' Additionally, the hadith in Tirmidhi emphasizes that nations are destroyed due to injustice and disobedience, establishing the causal connection between moral transgression and destruction.
Themes
Key Lesson
No matter how powerful or advanced a civilization becomes, it cannot escape divine accountability if it turns away from truth and justice. Modern societies should heed the historical warnings encoded in the Quran and recognize that material strength alone is insufficient without moral integrity and submission to Allah's guidance.