Surah Ghafir ayat 21 Tafsir Quran 40:21

﴿۞ أَوَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ كَانُوا هُمْ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً وَآثَارًا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَأَخَذَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَمَا كَانَ لَهُم مِّنَ اللَّهِ مِن وَاقٍ﴾
[ غافر: 21]

40:21 Have they not traveled through the land and observed how was the end of those who were before them? They were greater than them in strength and in impression on the land, but Allah seized them for their sins. And they had not from Allah any protector.

Have they not travelled in the land and beheld the nature of the consequence for those who were before them? They were more powerful than them a variant reading has minkum ‘than yourselves’ in strength and in their vestiges on earth in the way of large structures and palaces. Yet God seized them He destroyed them for their sins and they had none to shield them from God from His chastisement.

Have they not journeyed through the land and looked with their minds eyes to see what was the end of those who preceded them, who were far mightier and whose diligence never wearied, They left more material indicating prosecution with activity anal perseverance; but Allah seized them with a calamity and reduced them into a useless form in requital of their iniquities, and no tutelary did they have to protect them from Him

The Severe Punishment for the Disbelievers أَوَلَمْ يَسيرُواْ ( Have they not traveled ), `these people who disbelieve in your Message, O Muhammad,' فِى الاٌّرْضِ فَيَنظُرُواْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ كَانُواْ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ( in the land and seen what was the end of those who were before them ) means, the nations of the past who disbelieved in their Prophets ( peace be upon them ), for which the punishment came upon them even though they were stronger than Quraysh. وَءَاثَاراً فِى الاٌّرْضِ ( and in the traces in the land. ) means, they left behind traces in the earth, such as structures, buildings and dwellings which these people i.e., the Quraysh cannot match.
This is like the Ayat: وَلَقَدْ مَكَّنَـهُمْ فِيمَآ إِن مَّكَّنَّـكُمْ فِيهِ ( And indeed We had firmly established them with that wherewith We have not established you! ) ( 46:26 ) وَأَثَارُواْ الاٌّرْضَ وَعَمَرُوهَآ أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا عَمَرُوهَا ( and they tilled the earth and populated it in greater numbers than these have done ) ( 30:9 ).
Yet despite this great strength, Allah punished them for their sin, which was their disbelief in their Messengers. وَمَا كَانَ لَهُم مِّنَ اللَّهِ مِن وَاقٍ ( And none had they to protect them from Allah. ) means, they had no one who could protect them or ward off the punishment from them.
Then Allah mentions the reason why He punished them, and the sins which they committed.
Allah says: ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانَت تَّأْتِيهِمْ رُسُلُهُم بِالْبَيِّنَـتِ ( That was because there came to them their Messengers with clear evidences ) meaning with clear proof and definitive evidence. فَكَفَرُواْ ( but they disbelieved. ) means, despite all these signs, they disbelieved and rejected the Message. فَأَخَذَهُمُ اللَّهُ ( So Allah seized them. ) means, He destroyed them utterly, and a similar fate awaits the disbelievers. إِنَّهُ قَوِىٌّ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ ( Verily, He is All-Strong, Severe in punishment ) means, He is possessed of great strength and might. شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ ( Severe in punishment, ) means, His punishment is severe and agonizing; we seek refuge with Allah, may He be blessed and exalted, from that.

The Severe Punishment for the Disbelievers أَوَلَمْ يَسيرُواْ ( Have they not traveled ), `these people who disbelieve in your Message, O Muhammad,' فِى الاٌّرْضِ فَيَنظُرُواْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ كَانُواْ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ( in the land and seen what was the end of those who were before them ) means, the nations of the past who disbelieved in their Prophets ( peace be upon them ), for which the punishment came upon them even though they were stronger than Quraysh. وَءَاثَاراً فِى الاٌّرْضِ ( and in the traces in the land. ) means, they left behind traces in the earth, such as structures, buildings and dwellings which these people i.e., the Quraysh cannot match.
This is like the Ayat: وَلَقَدْ مَكَّنَـهُمْ فِيمَآ إِن مَّكَّنَّـكُمْ فِيهِ ( And indeed We had firmly established them with that wherewith We have not established you! ) ( 46:26 ) وَأَثَارُواْ الاٌّرْضَ وَعَمَرُوهَآ أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا عَمَرُوهَا ( and they tilled the earth and populated it in greater numbers than these have done ) ( 30:9 ).
Yet despite this great strength, Allah punished them for their sin, which was their disbelief in their Messengers. وَمَا كَانَ لَهُم مِّنَ اللَّهِ مِن وَاقٍ ( And none had they to protect them from Allah. ) means, they had no one who could protect them or ward off the punishment from them.
Then Allah mentions the reason why He punished them, and the sins which they committed.
Allah says: ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانَت تَّأْتِيهِمْ رُسُلُهُم بِالْبَيِّنَـتِ ( That was because there came to them their Messengers with clear evidences ) meaning with clear proof and definitive evidence. فَكَفَرُواْ ( but they disbelieved. ) means, despite all these signs, they disbelieved and rejected the Message. فَأَخَذَهُمُ اللَّهُ ( So Allah seized them. ) means, He destroyed them utterly, and a similar fate awaits the disbelievers. إِنَّهُ قَوِىٌّ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ ( Verily, He is All-Strong, Severe in punishment ) means, He is possessed of great strength and might. شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ ( Severe in punishment, ) means, His punishment is severe and agonizing; we seek refuge with Allah, may He be blessed and exalted, from that.

( Have they not travelled ) i.e. the disbelievers of Mecca ( in the land to see ) to reflect on ( the nature of the consequence for ) the requital of ( those who disbelieved before them? They were mightier than these in power ) in physical strength ( and (in the ) traces ( which they left behind them ) in the earth) they were more keen to possess the life of this world and to travel much farther in its pursuit. ( Yet Allah sewed them for their sins ) yet Allah punished them because of their sins and disbelief, ( and they had no protector from Allah ) from Allah’s punishment.

Have they not travelled in the land and seen what was the end of those who were before them? They were superior to them in strength, and in the traces (which they left) in the land. But Allah seized them with punishment for their sins. And none had they to protect them from Allah.

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