سُوْرَةُ الْاَعْرَافِ

Surah Al-A'raaf (7) — Ayah 69

The Heights · Meccan · Juz 8 · Page 159

أَوَعَجِبْتُمْ أَن جَآءَكُمْ ذِكْرٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَلَىٰ رَجُلٍ مِّنكُمْ لِيُنذِرَكُمْ ۚ وَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ إِذْ جَعَلَكُمْ خُلَفَآءَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ وَزَادَكُمْ فِى ٱلْخَلْقِ بَصْۜطَةً ۖ فَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ ءَالَآءَ ٱللَّهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴿69﴾
"Do you wonder that there has come to you a Reminder (and an advice) from your Lord through a man from amongst you to warn you? And remember that He made you successors after the people of Nûh (Noah) and increased you amply in stature. So remember the graces (bestowed upon you) from Allâh so that you may be successful."
أَوَعَجِبْتُمْ awaʿajib'tum Do you wonder
أَن an that
جَآءَكُمْ jāakum has come to you
ذِكْرٌۭ dhik'run a reminder
مِّن min from
رَّبِّكُمْ rabbikum your Lord
عَلَىٰ ʿalā on
رَجُلٍۢ rajulin a man
مِّنكُمْ minkum among you
لِيُنذِرَكُمْ ۚ liyundhirakum that he may warn you
وَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ wa-udh'kurū And remember
إِذْ idh when
جَعَلَكُمْ jaʿalakum He made you
خُلَفَآءَ khulafāa successors
مِنۢ min from
بَعْدِ baʿdi after
قَوْمِ qawmi (the) people
نُوحٍۢ nūḥin (of) Nuh
وَزَادَكُمْ wazādakum and increased you
فِى in
ٱلْخَلْقِ l-khalqi the stature
بَصْۜطَةًۭ ۖ baṣ'ṭatan extensively
فَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ fa-udh'kurū So remember
ءَالَآءَ ālāa (the) Bounties
ٱللَّهِ l-lahi (of) Allah
لَعَلَّكُمْ laʿallakum so that you may
تُفْلِحُونَ tuf'liḥūna succeed

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 69) {وَ اذْكُرُوْۤا اِذْ جَعَلَكُمْ خُلَفَآءَ مِنْۢ بَعْدِ قَوْمِ ……:} means He made you strong and mighty, and after the people of Nuh, He settled you in the land as a powerful nation. Here, {’’ خُلَفَآءَ ‘‘} means this; it does not mean that He made them successors in the homeland of the people of Nuh, Iraq. (Qurtubi) Regarding the stature and build of the people of ‘Ad, Allah Himself has testified, saying: «الَّتِيْ لَمْ يُخْلَقْ مِثْلُهَا فِي الْبِلَادِ» [ الفجر : ۸ ] meaning, none like them was created in the cities, and that after the punishment, they were left fallen like the trunks of fallen date palms. See Surah Al-Haqqah (7).

Some scholars of tafsir have narrated strange and wondrous reports about the physical strength and height of the people of ‘Ad, such as that the tallest among them was one hundred cubits tall, and the shortest was sixty cubits, and in some narrations, it is said that one man among them could lift a stone that five hundred men of our time could not lift, and so on. However, Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: “Allah created Adam in his form, his height was sixty cubits... then the creation has continued to decrease since then.” [ بخاری، الاستئذان، باب بدء السلام : ۶۲۲۷ ] Therefore, it is not permissible to rely on such stories about the people of ‘Ad. However, it is correct that the people of ‘Ad possessed extraordinary physical strength and stature, were builders of lofty buildings, and were extremely harsh, as mentioned in Surah Ash-Shu‘ara (123–134) and Ha Mim As-Sajdah (15).

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.

69. 1. At another place, Allah Almighty said about them, "No nation like them in strength has been created." Becoming proud of this strength, they said, مَنْ اَ شَدُّ مِنَّا قُوَّۃً "Who is stronger than us?" Allah Almighty said, "The One who created them is stronger than them." (حٰم سجدہ۔ 15)

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.

Do you wonder that a reminder has come to you from your Lord through a man from among yourselves, so that he may warn you? And remember when He made you successors after the people of Noah and increased you greatly in stature [73]. So remember the blessings of Allah, so that you may prosper.”

[73]
The Stature and Build of the People of 'Ad:

According to some narrations, the average height of the people of 'Ad was twelve cubits. One can imagine the strength and power of such well-built humans, and they also enjoyed abundance in sustenance. Sayyiduna Hud (peace be upon him) reminded them of Allah's favors and told them, "Look, the fate that befell the people of Nuh (peace be upon him) when they did not abandon idol worship is before you. Therefore, be grateful for Allah's blessings and worship Him alone."