Surah Zumar ayat 50 Tafsir Quran 39:50

﴿قَدْ قَالَهَا الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَمَا أَغْنَىٰ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ﴾
[ الزمر: 50]

39:50 Those before them had already said it, but they were not availed by what they used to earn.

Already the same was said by those who were before them of communities such as Korah and those of his people who were content with such a saying. But what they used to earn did not avail them.

In a similar manner did those who preceded them reveal their true character but nothing they had done or left undone and nothing they had accomplished in their own irreverent way was of any advantage to them nor did it accomplish their purpose nor did it protect them from Allahs retributive punishment

(39:50) Their predecessors also said the same, but their earnings proved of no avail to them, *68

Those before them had already said it, meaning

*68) That is, " When they were seized for evil-doing, the ability of which they were so proud, did not avail them anything, and this also became known that they were not Allah's favourites.
Evidently, if their earning had been due to their capability and their being favourites with Allah, they would not have been seized for evil-doing at all. "
 

( Those before them ) before your people, O Muhammad, such as Korah and others ( said it ) claimed this claim, ( yet (all ) that they had earned availed them not) what they used to do and say as well as what they used to worship beside Allah and amass of wealth did not benefit them in driving away Allah’s punishment;

Verily, those before them said it, yet (all) that they had earned availed them not.

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