Surah Ghafir ayat 82 Tafsir Quran 40:82

﴿أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ كَانُوا أَكْثَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَأَشَدَّ قُوَّةً وَآثَارًا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَمَا أَغْنَىٰ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ﴾
[ غافر: 82]

40:82 Have they not traveled through the land and observed how was the end of those before them? They were more numerous than themselves and greater in strength and in impression on the land, but they were not availed by what they used to earn.

Have they not travelled across the land to see the nature of the consequence for those before them? They were more powerful than them in might and in their vestiges on earth in the way of large structures and palaces. But what they used to earn did not avail them.

Have they not journeyed through the land and looked with their minds eyes to see the fatal consequence of those who preceded them, who were mightier by force of numbers and far mightier in power and their diligence never wearied! They left more material indicating prosecution with activity and perseverance. Yet all the advantages they availed themselves of did not afford them help nor did they serve their purpose

The Lesson to be learned from what happened to Those Who Came before Allah tells us about the nations who rejected their Messengers in ancient times.
He mentioned the severe punishment they suffered despite their great strength, He mentioned the traces which they left behind in the earth and the great wealth they amassed.
None of that availed them anything and could not prevent the punishment of Allah at all.
That is because when the Messengers came to them with clear signs and decisive evidence, they did not pay any attention to them.
Instead, they were content with the knowledge with them, or so they claimed, and they said that they did not need what the Messengers brought them.
Mujahid said, "They said, we know better than them, we will not be resurrected and we will not be punished." As-Suddi said, "In their ignorance, they rejoiced in what they had of ( worldly ) knowledge.
So Allah sent upon them a punishment which they could not escape or resist." وَحَاقَ بِهِم ( and surrounded them. ) means, encompassed them. مَا كَانُواْ بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ ( that at which they used to mock, ) means, that which they used to disbelieve in and said would never happen, فَلَمَّا رَأَوْاْ بَأْسَنَا ( So when they saw Our punishment, ) means, when they saw with their own eyes the punishment which came upon them, they said, قَالُواْ ءَامَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ وَكَـفَرْنَا بِمَا كُنَّا بِهِ مُشْرِكِينَ ( We believe in Allah Alone and reject (all ) that we used to associate with Him as ( His ) partners.
) means, they affirmed that Allah is One and denied the false gods, but this was at the time when excuses were to no avail.
This is like what Fir`awn said as he was drowning: ءَامَنتُ أَنَّهُ لا إِلِـهَ إِلاَّ الَّذِى ءَامَنَتْ بِهِ بَنواْ إِسْرَءِيلَ وَأَنَاْ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ( I believe that none has the right to be worshipped but He in Whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am one of the Muslims. ) ( 10:90 ) But Allah said: ءَالَنَ وَقَدْ عَصَيْتَ قَبْلُ وَكُنتَ مِنَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ ( Now (you believe ) while you refused to believe before and you were one of the the corrupters.) ( 10:91 ) meaning, Allah did not accept this from him, because He had answered the prayer of His Prophet Musa, when he said, وَاشْدُدْ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ فَلاَ يُؤْمِنُواْ حَتَّى يَرَوُاْ الْعَذَابَ الاٌّلِيمَ ( And harden their hearts, so that they will not believe until they see the painful torment ) ( 10:88 ).
Allah says here: فَلَمْ يَكُ يَنفَعُهُمْ إِيمَـنُهُمْ لَمَّا رَأَوْاْ بَأْسَنَا سُنَّةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِى قَدْ خَلَتْ فِى عِبَادِهِ ( Then their Faith could not avail them when they saw Our punishment.
(Like ) this has been the way of Allah in dealing with His servants.) means, this is the ruling of Allah concerning all those who repent only when they actually see the punishment: He does not accept that from them.
It says in the Hadith:
«إِنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى يَقْبَلُ تَوْبَةَ الْعَبْدِ مَالَمْ يُغَرْغِر»
( Allah will accept the repentance of His servant so long as the death rattle is not sounding in his throat. ) Once the death rattle is sounding and the soul has reached the throat, and the dying person actually sees the angel ( of death ), then he can no longer repent.
Allah says: وَخَسِرَ هُنَالِكَ الْكَـفِرُونَ ( And there the disbelievers lost utterly. ) This is the end of the Tafsir of Surah Ghafir.
Praise and thanks be to Allah.

(40:82) Did *111 they not journey in the land that they may behold the end of those who had gone before them? They were more numerous and greater in strength and left behind more splendid traces in the land. Yet their attainments did not avail them.

Have they not traveled through the land meaning

*111) This is the con clusion to the discourse.
While studying this please also keep in view vv.
4-5 and v.
21 of this Surah.

 

The Lesson to be learned from what happened to Those Who Came before Allah tells us about the nations who rejected their Messengers in ancient times.
He mentioned the severe punishment they suffered despite their great strength, He mentioned the traces which they left behind in the earth and the great wealth they amassed.
None of that availed them anything and could not prevent the punishment of Allah at all.
That is because when the Messengers came to them with clear signs and decisive evidence, they did not pay any attention to them.
Instead, they were content with the knowledge with them, or so they claimed, and they said that they did not need what the Messengers brought them.
Mujahid said, "They said, we know better than them, we will not be resurrected and we will not be punished." As-Suddi said, "In their ignorance, they rejoiced in what they had of ( worldly ) knowledge.
So Allah sent upon them a punishment which they could not escape or resist." وَحَاقَ بِهِم ( and surrounded them. ) means, encompassed them. مَا كَانُواْ بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ ( that at which they used to mock, ) means, that which they used to disbelieve in and said would never happen, فَلَمَّا رَأَوْاْ بَأْسَنَا ( So when they saw Our punishment, ) means, when they saw with their own eyes the punishment which came upon them, they said, قَالُواْ ءَامَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ وَكَـفَرْنَا بِمَا كُنَّا بِهِ مُشْرِكِينَ ( We believe in Allah Alone and reject (all ) that we used to associate with Him as ( His ) partners.
) means, they affirmed that Allah is One and denied the false gods, but this was at the time when excuses were to no avail.
This is like what Fir`awn said as he was drowning: ءَامَنتُ أَنَّهُ لا إِلِـهَ إِلاَّ الَّذِى ءَامَنَتْ بِهِ بَنواْ إِسْرَءِيلَ وَأَنَاْ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ( I believe that none has the right to be worshipped but He in Whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am one of the Muslims. ) ( 10:90 ) But Allah said: ءَالَنَ وَقَدْ عَصَيْتَ قَبْلُ وَكُنتَ مِنَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ ( Now (you believe ) while you refused to believe before and you were one of the the corrupters.) ( 10:91 ) meaning, Allah did not accept this from him, because He had answered the prayer of His Prophet Musa, when he said, وَاشْدُدْ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ فَلاَ يُؤْمِنُواْ حَتَّى يَرَوُاْ الْعَذَابَ الاٌّلِيمَ ( And harden their hearts, so that they will not believe until they see the painful torment ) ( 10:88 ).
Allah says here: فَلَمْ يَكُ يَنفَعُهُمْ إِيمَـنُهُمْ لَمَّا رَأَوْاْ بَأْسَنَا سُنَّةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِى قَدْ خَلَتْ فِى عِبَادِهِ ( Then their Faith could not avail them when they saw Our punishment.
(Like ) this has been the way of Allah in dealing with His servants.) means, this is the ruling of Allah concerning all those who repent only when they actually see the punishment: He does not accept that from them.
It says in the Hadith: «إِنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى يَقْبَلُ تَوْبَةَ الْعَبْدِ مَالَمْ يُغَرْغِر» ( Allah will accept the repentance of His servant so long as the death rattle is not sounding in his throat. ) Once the death rattle is sounding and the soul has reached the throat, and the dying person actually sees the angel ( of death ), then he can no longer repent.
Allah says: وَخَسِرَ هُنَالِكَ الْكَـفِرُونَ ( And there the disbelievers lost utterly. ) This is the end of the Tafsir of Surah Ghafir.
Praise and thanks be to Allah.

( Have they not ) i.e. the people of Mecca ( travelled in the land to see ) to reflect on ( the nature of the consequence for ) on the requital of ( those before them ) how We destroy them when they disbelieved in their messengers? ( They were more numerous than these ) than the people of Mecca, ( and mightier in power ) in physical strength ( and (in the ) traces ( which they left behind them ) in the earth) they were keener on the life of this world and travelled more than them in seeking it. ( But all that they used to earn ) and say and do upon following their religions ( availed them not ) from Allah’s punishment.

Have they not travelled through the earth and seen what was the end of those before them? They were more numerous than them and mightier in strength, and in the traces (they have left behind them) in the land, yet all that they used to earn availed them not.

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