فَأَمَّا عَادٌ فَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ ٱلْحَقِّ وَقَالُوا۟ مَنْ أَشَدُّ مِنَّا قُوَّةً ۖ أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَهُمْ هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً ۖ وَكَانُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا يَجْحَدُونَ 15
Translations
As for ʿAad, they were arrogant upon the earth without right and said, "Who is greater than us in strength?" Did they not consider that Allāh who created them was greater than them in strength? But they were rejecting Our signs.
Transliteration
Fa-amma AAadun istakbaru fee al-ardi bighayri al-haqqi wa-qalu man ashaddu minna quwwatan aw-lam yaraw anna Allaha allathi khalaqahum huwa ashaddu minhum quwwatan wa-kanu bi-ayatina yajhadun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the arrogance of the Ad people, who boasted of their strength and power on earth without right, challenging if anyone was mightier than them. Allah refutes their hubris by reminding them that He who created them possesses greater strength than they could ever possess. Ibn Kathir notes that their denial of Allah's signs (ayat) alongside their arrogance sealed their destruction, as they rejected the message brought by the Prophet Hud despite witnessing clear proofs of divine power.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Fussilat's historical narratives (Meccan period) that detail the fates of previous nations who rejected their messengers. The context here specifically addresses the destruction of the Ad people, serving as a warning to the Quraysh and all who witness divine signs yet choose arrogance and denial. The surah uses these historical examples to reinforce the consequences of rejecting monotheism.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is reported in Tirmidhi to have said: 'Allah dislikes arrogance and self-conceit. No one will enter Paradise who has even an atom's weight of arrogance in his heart.' This directly relates to the Ad's fatal flaw of istikbar (arrogance) mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
True strength lies not in physical power or worldly might, but in submission to Allah and recognition of His absolute dominion. Arrogance that blinds one to divine truth—no matter how powerful one appears materially—inevitably leads to destruction, making humility and receptiveness to faith the true markers of wisdom and strength.
Related Ayahs
وَقَالُوا۟ لِجُلُودِهِمْ لِمَ شَهِدتُّمْ عَلَيْنَا ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ أَنطَقَنَا ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنطَقَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ وَهُوَ خَلَقَكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
And they will say to their skins, "Why have you testified against us?" They will say, "We were made to speak by Allāh, who has made everything speak; and He created you the first time, and to Him you are returned.
وَلَئِنْ أَذَقْنَـٰهُ رَحْمَةً مِّنَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ ضَرَّآءَ مَسَّتْهُ لَيَقُولَنَّ هَـٰذَا لِى وَمَآ أَظُنُّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ قَآئِمَةً وَلَئِن رُّجِعْتُ إِلَىٰ رَبِّىٓ إِنَّ لِى عِندَهُۥ لَلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ فَلَنُنَبِّئَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِمَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَلَنُذِيقَنَّهُم مِّنْ عَذَابٍ غَلِيظٍ
And if We let him taste mercy from Us after an adversity which has touched him, he will surely say, "This is [due] to me, and I do not think the Hour will occur; and [even] if I should be returned to my Lord, indeed, for me there will be with Him the best." But We will surely inform those who disbelieved about what they did, and We will surely make them taste a massive punishment.
وَإِمَّا يَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ نَزْغٌ فَٱسْتَعِذْ بِٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ
And if there comes to you from Satan an evil suggestion, then seek refuge in Allāh. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing.
نُزُلًا مِّنْ غَفُورٍ رَّحِيمٍ
As accommodation from a [Lord who is] Forgiving and Merciful."