أَوَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَكَانُوٓا۟ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً ۚ وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُعْجِزَهُۥ مِن شَىْءٍ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَلَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ عَلِيمًا قَدِيرًا 44
Translations
Have they not traveled through the land and observed how was the end of those before them? And they were greater than them in power. But Allāh is not to be caused failure [i.e., prevented] by anything in the heavens or on the earth. Indeed, He is ever Knowing and Competent.
Transliteration
Awalam yasīrū fī al-arḍi fayanzurū kayfa kāna `āqibatu alladhīna min qablihim wa-kānū ashadda minhum quwwatan wa-mā kāna Allāhu li-yu`jizahu min shay'in fī as-samāwāti wa-lā fī al-arḍi innahu kāna `alīman qadīran
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the disbelievers to travel through the earth and observe the ruins and fate of past civilizations who were more powerful than them, yet were destroyed by Allah's punishment for their rejection of His signs. The verse emphasizes that Allah's power encompasses all things in the heavens and earth—nothing escapes His knowledge (`alīm) or ability (`qadīr)—thus their destruction was not by chance but by Allah's divine decree. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this ayah serves as both a warning and evidence of Allah's absolute sovereignty; Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that the remains of destroyed nations are physical signs (āyāt) for the believers to contemplate.
Revelation Context
Surah Fatir is a Meccan surah revealed during the period of intense Meccan opposition to the Prophet (ﷺ). This ayah appears in the latter portion of the surah and addresses the Quraysh's arrogance and denial. It contextualizes within the surah's broader theme of Allah's creative power and the consequences of rejecting His messengers, using historical examples as proof of divine justice.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Learn from the fate of nations before you, as a lesson and admonition' (related thematically in various admonitions about studying history). Additionally, the concept of i'tibār (taking lessons from the past) is emphasized in the hadith: 'The best of stories is the Qur'an' (Sahih Muslim), where studying the accounts of previous peoples is encouraged as a means of guidance.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims should reflect upon the patterns of history and the rise and fall of civilizations as signs of Allah's justice, recognizing that material power and wealth cannot protect those who reject divine guidance. This ayah teaches us that no amount of worldly strength can stand against Allah's will, and thus our focus should be on obedience and faith rather than accumulation of power and resources.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ ۖ فَلَا تَغُرَّنَّكُمُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُم بِٱللَّهِ ٱلْغَرُورُ
O mankind, indeed the promise of Allāh is truth, so let not the worldly life delude you and be not deceived about Allāh by the Deceiver [i.e., Satan].
ٱلَّذِىٓ أَحَلَّنَا دَارَ ٱلْمُقَامَةِ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ لَا يَمَسُّنَا فِيهَا نَصَبٌ وَلَا يَمَسُّنَا فِيهَا لُغُوبٌ
He who has settled us in the home of duration [i.e., Paradise] out of His bounty. There touches us not in it any fatigue, and there touches us not in it weariness [of mind]."
يُولِجُ ٱلَّيْلَ فِى ٱلنَّهَارِ وَيُولِجُ ٱلنَّهَارَ فِى ٱلَّيْلِ وَسَخَّرَ ٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ كُلٌّ يَجْرِى لِأَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ لَهُ ٱلْمُلْكُ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦ مَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِن قِطْمِيرٍ
He causes the night to enter the day, and He causes the day to enter the night and has subjected the sun and the moon - each running [its course] for a specified term. That is Allāh, your Lord; to Him belongs sovereignty. And those whom you invoke other than Him do not possess [as much as] the membrane of a date seed.
أَفَمَن زُيِّنَ لَهُۥ سُوٓءُ عَمَلِهِۦ فَرَءَاهُ حَسَنًا ۖ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُضِلُّ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ۖ فَلَا تَذْهَبْ نَفْسُكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَسَرَٰتٍ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ
Then is one to whom the evil of his deed has been made attractive so he considers it good [like one rightly guided]? For indeed, Allāh sends astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. So do not let yourself perish over them in regret. Indeed, Allāh is Knowing of what they do.