سُوْرَةُ الْمُؤْمِنِ
Surah Ghafir (40) — Ayah 21
۞ أَوَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَانُوا۟ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ كَانُوا۟ هُمْ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً وَءَاثَارًا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَأَخَذَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَمَا كَانَ لَهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن وَاقٍ ﴿21﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Have they not travelled in the land and seen what was the end of those who were before them? They were superior to them in strength, and in the traces (which they left) in the land. But Allâh seized them with punishment for their sins. And none had they to protect them from Allâh.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ أَوَلَمْ
awalam
Do not
يَسِيرُوا۟
yasīrū
they travel
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْأَرْضِ
l-arḍi
the earth
فَيَنظُرُوا۟
fayanẓurū
and see
كَيْفَ
kayfa
how
كَانَ
kāna
was
عَـٰقِبَةُ
ʿāqibatu
(the) end
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
(of) those who
كَانُوا۟
kānū
were
مِن
min
before them
قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ
qablihim
before them
كَانُوا۟
kānū
They were
هُمْ
hum
[they]
أَشَدَّ
ashadda
superior
مِنْهُمْ
min'hum
to them
قُوَّةًۭ
quwwatan
(in) strength
وَءَاثَارًۭا
waāthāran
and (in) impressions
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْأَرْضِ
l-arḍi
the land
فَأَخَذَهُمُ
fa-akhadhahumu
but Allah seized them
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
but Allah seized them
بِذُنُوبِهِمْ
bidhunūbihim
for their sins
وَمَا
wamā
and not
كَانَ
kāna
was
لَهُم
lahum
for them
مِّنَ
mina
against
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
مِن
min
any
وَاقٍۢ
wāqin
protector
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.
21. 1. In the previous verses, the conditions of the Hereafter were mentioned; now they are being warned by the conditions of this world, that they should travel through the land and see the fate of those nations who were destroyed before them for the same crime of denial that these people are committing, even though the previous nations were far superior to them in strength and achievements. But when Allah's punishment came upon them, no one could save them. In the same way, punishment can come upon you as well, and if it comes, then no one will be your protector.
