كَأَن لَّمْ يَغْنَوْا۟ فِيهَآ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ ثَمُودَا۟ كَفَرُوا۟ رَبَّهُمْ ۗ أَلَا بُعْدًا لِّثَمُودَ 68
Translations
As if they had never prospered therein. Unquestionably, Thamūd denied their Lord; then, away with Thamūd.
Transliteration
Ka-allam lam yaghnaw fihā, alā inna Thamūda kafarū Rabbahum, alā bu'dan li-Thamūd
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the people of Thamūd were completely destroyed and wiped out from their dwellings, as though they had never dwelt there at all—emphasizing the totality of their destruction. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that Allah then explicitly declares that Thamūd disbelieved in their Lord and rejected His signs, and pronounces a curse of distance and destruction upon them, establishing that their annihilation was a direct consequence of their kufr (disbelief) and rejection of the Prophet Ṣāliḥ's message.
Revelation Context
This ayah concludes the narrative of Thamūd within Surah Hud, which details their historical destruction as a warning to the Meccan disbelievers. The destruction of Thamūd serves as a powerful example of divine punishment for those who persistently reject the message of their prophets, contextualizing the Quranic theme that rejection of truth leads to inevitable ruination.
Related Hadiths
The destruction of Thamūd is referenced in Sahih Bukhari (Kitāb al-Tafsīr) where the Prophet (ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) warned the Ummah not to follow the ways of previous nations who were destroyed. Additionally, Sunan Ibn Mājah contains narrations about the Prophet's warning regarding the fate of those who reject divine guidance.
Themes
Key Lesson
The destruction of Thamūd serves as a timeless reminder that rejecting the clear signs of Allah and His messengers inevitably leads to catastrophic consequences, both individually and collectively. Modern believers should heed this warning by accepting divine guidance with humility and reflecting on how societies that turn away from truth are destined for downfall.