سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْۣبِيَآءِ

Surah Al-Anbiyaa (21) — Ayah 11

The Prophets · Meccan · Juz 17 · Page 323

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وَكَمْ قَصَمْنَا مِن قَرْيَةٍ كَانَتْ ظَالِمَةً وَأَنشَأْنَا بَعْدَهَا قَوْمًا ءَاخَرِينَ ﴿11﴾

Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali

How many a town (community) given to wrong-doing, have We destroyed, and raised up after them another people!

Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning

وَكَمْ wakam And how many
قَصَمْنَا qaṣamnā We (have) shattered
مِن min of
قَرْيَةٍۢ qaryatin a town
كَانَتْ kānat (that) was
ظَالِمَةًۭ ẓālimatan unjust
وَأَنشَأْنَا wa-anshanā and We produced
بَعْدَهَا baʿdahā after them
قَوْمًا qawman another people
ءَاخَرِينَ ākharīna another people

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah 11) ➊ The meaning of {وَ كَمْ قَصَمْنَا مِنْ قَرْيَةٍ كَانَتْ ظَالِمَةً : ’’قَصْمٌ‘‘} is to break something hard. It is said: {’’فُلاَنٌ قَصَمَ ظَهْرَ فُلاَنٍ ‘‘} that so-and-so broke so-and-so’s back. {’’اِنْقَصَمَتْ سِنُّهُ‘‘} so-and-so’s tooth was broken. {’’ كَمْ ‘‘} here is for abundance, “how many towns” means many towns, no specific town is meant by this. The narration attributed to Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), in which it is reported from him that it refers to the people of the cities of Yemen, is fabricated. [ الاستیعاب في بیان الأسباب ] According to the words of the verse as well, those towns are general and no specific area is meant.
➋ The meaning of {وَ اَنْشَاْنَا بَعْدَهَا قَوْمًا اٰخَرِيْنَ : ’’ اَلإْنْشَاءُ‘‘} is to make something new. {’’ بَعْدَهَا ‘‘} in some places is {’’ مِنْ بَعْدِهَا ‘‘}, in which a little delay is meant, here {’’ بَعْدَهَا ‘‘} means that after the destruction of those towns, We immediately brought new nations there. Allah Almighty has mentioned Himself in the plural form in this verse and the following verses. The purpose of this is to express His greatness.

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

11. 1. The meaning of قَصَمَ is to utterly destroy and break apart. That is, how many towns We have destroyed, shattered and broken apart, just as it is mentioned at another place: "After the people of Nuh, how many towns We destroyed" (Surah Bani Isra'il).

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

11. How many towns were there whose inhabitants were wrongdoers, and We crushed them, and raised up other people [11] after them.

[11] That is, it did not happen that after destroying the wrongdoing nations, this land remained desolate and barren. Rather, We immediately brought other people to settle this land, and if there was any harm, it was only to the wrongdoers themselves.
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