سُوْرَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ
Surah Al-Israa (17) — Ayah 16
وَإِذَآ أَرَدْنَآ أَن نُّهْلِكَ قَرْيَةً أَمَرْنَا مُتْرَفِيهَا فَفَسَقُوا۟ فِيهَا فَحَقَّ عَلَيْهَا ٱلْقَوْلُ فَدَمَّرْنَـٰهَا تَدْمِيرًا ﴿16﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And when We decide to destroy a town (population), We (first) send a definite order (to obey Allâh and be righteous) to those among them [or We (first) increase in number those of its population] who lead a life of luxury. Then, they transgress therein, and thus the word (of torment) is justified against it (them). Then We destroy it with complete destruction.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِذَآ
wa-idhā
And when
أَرَدْنَآ
aradnā
We intend
أَن
an
that
نُّهْلِكَ
nuh'lika
We destroy
قَرْيَةً
qaryatan
a town
أَمَرْنَا
amarnā
We order
مُتْرَفِيهَا
mut'rafīhā
its wealthy people
فَفَسَقُوا۟
fafasaqū
but they defiantly disobey
فِيهَا
fīhā
therein
فَحَقَّ
faḥaqqa
so (is) proved true
عَلَيْهَا
ʿalayhā
against it
ٱلْقَوْلُ
l-qawlu
the word
فَدَمَّرْنَـٰهَا
fadammarnāhā
and We destroy it
تَدْمِيرًۭا
tadmīran
(with) destruction
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.
16. 1. In this, the principle has been explained by which the destruction of nations is decided, and that is when the prosperous class of a nation begins to disobey the commands of Allah, and then others follow their example. In this way, disobedience to Allah becomes widespread in that nation, and it becomes deserving of punishment.
