سُوْرَةُ مَرْيَمَ
Surah Maryam (19) — Ayah 74
وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّن قَرْنٍ هُمْ أَحْسَنُ أَثَـٰثًا وَرِءْيًا ﴿74﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And how many a generation (past nations) have We destroyed before them, who were better in wealth, goods and outward appearance?
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَكَمْ
wakam
And how many
أَهْلَكْنَا
ahlaknā
We destroyed
قَبْلَهُم
qablahum
before them
مِّن
min
of
قَرْنٍ
qarnin
a generation
هُمْ
hum
they
أَحْسَنُ
aḥsanu
(were) better
أَثَـٰثًۭا
athāthan
(in) possessions
وَرِءْيًۭا
wari'yan
and appearance
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 74){وَ كَمْ اَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُمْ مِّنْ قَرْنٍ …: ’’ اَثَاثًا ‘‘} Household possessions, which include camels, horses, sheep and goats, and slaves, etc. {’’ رِءْيًا ‘‘ ’’رَأَيَ يَرَي ‘‘} is the verbal noun (masdar) of (ف), meaning things to be seen. It can also have the meaning of the verbal noun, as has been done in the translation. That is, when after disobedience, those with much greater possessions and splendor could not be saved from Our punishment by their worldly prosperity, then where do these poor ones stand in comparison? In reality, to be proud of the pomp and glory of the world and to consider the poor Muslims as insignificant is utter foolishness.
