وَكَأَيِّن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ هِىَ أَشَدُّ قُوَّةً مِّن قَرْيَتِكَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَخْرَجَتْكَ أَهْلَكْنَـٰهُمْ فَلَا نَاصِرَ لَهُمْ 13
Translations
And how many a city was stronger than your city [i.e., Makkah] which drove you out? We destroyed them; and there was no helper for them.
Transliteration
Wa-ka-ayyin min qaryatin hiya ashaddu quwwatan min qaryatika allati akhrajatka ahlaknāhum fa-lā nāsira lahum
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah reminds the Prophet (peace be upon him) that many cities far more powerful and fortified than Makkah (which expelled him) have been destroyed by Allah's punishment, and none could help or rescue them. This ayah serves as consolation to the Prophet and a warning to the disbelievers of Quraysh that their material strength and numbers would not protect them from divine retribution if they persisted in rejecting the message. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize this as evidence of Allah's supreme power over all kingdoms and civilizations.
Revelation Context
This ayah is situated within Surah Muhammad (a Medinan chapter revealed after the Hijrah), addressing the early Muslim community and the Prophet during a period of conflict with the Makkans. The context reflects the Prophet's experience of being driven out from his homeland, and Allah provides reassurance by referencing historical precedents of destroyed civilizations—a recurring theme in the Quran to strengthen believers' conviction that Allah's aid would ultimately prevail.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet said, 'Whoever helps a people in their wrongdoing will have a share in their sin,' emphasizing that strength and numbers alone cannot save a community from punishment if they oppose Allah's guidance. Additionally, Surah Al-Fil (Chapter 105) and related accounts in Sahih Bukhari discuss how Allah destroyed the armies of Abraha despite their superior military power.
Themes
Key Lesson
True security and victory come not from military might or numerical superiority, but from alignment with Allah's will and obedience to His guidance. Believers should take comfort knowing that despite apparent worldly disadvantages, Allah's support is absolute and His justice transcends all earthly power structures.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ ۚ وَإِن تُؤْمِنُوا۟ وَتَتَّقُوا۟ يُؤْتِكُمْ أُجُورَكُمْ وَلَا يَسْـَٔلْكُمْ أَمْوَٰلَكُمْ
[This] worldly life is only amusement and diversion. And if you believe and fear Allāh, He will give you your rewards and not ask you for your properties.
هَـٰٓأَنتُمْ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ تُدْعَوْنَ لِتُنفِقُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَمِنكُم مَّن يَبْخَلُ ۖ وَمَن يَبْخَلْ فَإِنَّمَا يَبْخَلُ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلْغَنِىُّ وَأَنتُمُ ٱلْفُقَرَآءُ ۚ وَإِن تَتَوَلَّوْا۟ يَسْتَبْدِلْ قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُونُوٓا۟ أَمْثَـٰلَكُم
Here you are - those invited to spend in the cause of Allāh - but among you are those who withhold [out of greed]. And whoever withholds only withholds [benefit] from himself; and Allāh is the Free of need, while you are the needy. And if you turn away [i.e., refuse], He will replace you with another people; then they will not be the likes of you.
فَلَا تَهِنُوا۟ وَتَدْعُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلسَّلْمِ وَأَنتُمُ ٱلْأَعْلَوْنَ وَٱللَّهُ مَعَكُمْ وَلَن يَتِرَكُمْ أَعْمَـٰلَكُمْ
So do not weaken and call for peace while you are superior; and Allāh is with you and will never deprive you of [the reward of] your deeds.
۞ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَلَا تُبْطِلُوٓا۟ أَعْمَـٰلَكُمْ
O you who have believed, obey Allāh and obey the Messenger and do not invalidate your deeds.