Surah Ghafir ayat 22 Tafsir Quran 40:22

﴿ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانَت تَّأْتِيهِمْ رُسُلُهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ فَكَفَرُوا فَأَخَذَهُمُ اللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّهُ قَوِيٌّ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ﴾
[ غافر: 22]

40:22 That was because their messengers were coming to them with clear proofs, but they disbelieved, so Allah seized them. Indeed, He is Powerful and severe in punishment.

That was because their messengers used to bring them clear signs manifest miracles but they disbelieved. So God seized them. Indeed He is Strong Severe in punishment.

A penalty imposed on them in the train of their malicious refusal of the clear evidence of His Omnipotence and Authority presented to them by their Messengers, and in conscience did He seize them with a calamity and reduce them into a useless form; He is indeed Omnipotent, He punishes severely

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.

(40:22) They came to this end because their Messengers would come to them with Clear Signs *34 and yet they would refuse to believe. So Allah seized them. He is indeed Strong, Terrible in Retribution.

That was because their messengers were coming meaning

*34) Bayyinat means three things: ( 1 ) The clear signs which pointed to the Messengers' being appointed by Allah; ( 2 ) the convincing arguments which were a clear proof of their teachings being based on the Truth; and ( 3 ) the clear guidance and instructions about the problems and affairs of life which could enable every reasonable person to see that such pure teachings could not be given by an impostor.

 

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.

( That ) punishment in the life of this world ( was because their messengers kept bringing them clear proofs ) of commands and prohibitions as well as signs ( but they disbelieved ) in the messengers and in the message they brought; ( so Allah seized them ) with punishment. ( Lo! He is Strong ) when He seizes, ( Severe in punishment ) towards whoever He punishes.

That was because there came to them their Messengers with clear evidences, proofs and signs but they disbelieved (in them). So Allah seized them with punishment. Verily, He is All-Strong, Severe in punishment.

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