سُوْرَةُ طٰهٰ
Surah Taa-Haa (20) — Ayah 128
أَفَلَمْ يَهْدِ لَهُمْ كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْقُرُونِ يَمْشُونَ فِى مَسَـٰكِنِهِمْ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلنُّهَىٰ ﴿128﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Is it not a guidance for them (to know) how many generations We have destroyed before them, in whose dwellings they walk? Verily, in this are signs indeed for men of understanding.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَفَلَمْ
afalam
Then has not
يَهْدِ
yahdi
it guided
لَهُمْ
lahum
[for] them
كَمْ
kam
how many
أَهْلَكْنَا
ahlaknā
We (have) destroyed
قَبْلَهُم
qablahum
before them
مِّنَ
mina
of
ٱلْقُرُونِ
l-qurūni
the generations
يَمْشُونَ
yamshūna
(as) they walk
فِى
fī
in
مَسَـٰكِنِهِمْ ۗ
masākinihim
their dwellings
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
فِى
fī
in
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
that
لَـَٔايَـٰتٍۢ
laāyātin
surely (are) Signs
لِّأُو۟لِى
li-ulī
for possessors
ٱلنُّهَىٰ
l-nuhā
(of) intelligence
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 128) ➊ { اَفَلَمْ يَهْدِ لَهُمْ …:’’هَدٰي يَهْدِيْ‘‘} means to guide. {’’ الْقُرُوْنِ ‘‘ ’’قَرْنٌ‘‘} is the plural of qarn. The meaning of qarn is best determined by the statement of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), which he said regarding Abdullah bin Busr (may Allah be pleased with him): [ يَعِيْشُ هٰذَا الْغُلَامُ قَرْنًا، فَعَاشَ مِائَةَ سَنَةٍ ] [ سلسلۃ الأحادیث الصحیحۃ : 159/6، ح : ۲۶۶۰ ] "This boy will live for one qarn," so he lived for one hundred years. In this narration from Silsilah Sahihah, as quoted by Ibn Asakir, Abdullah bin Busr (may Allah be pleased with him) says: "I asked, 'O Messenger of Allah! May my parents be sacrificed for you! How long is a qarn?'" He replied: "One hundred years." Abdullah bin Busr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I have already lived ninety-five years, and there are five years left for the statement of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) to be fulfilled." Muhammad bin Qasim says: "Afterwards, we counted five years, then he passed away."
➋ By "qurūn" are meant 'Ad and Thamud, because the Arabs, when traveling to Yemen, Najran, and the surrounding areas, would pass by the dwellings of the people of 'Ad. The Prophet (peace be upon him) and his noble companions (may Allah be pleased with them) passed by the houses of Thamud during the expedition of Tabuk. Similarly, on these journeys, the destroyed settlements of the people of Lot and the people of Madyan were located on the main highway, from where they would pass morning and evening. See Surah Al-Hijr (76–79) and As-Saffat (33–38).
➌ In this surah, the people who denied the prophets and their terrible end have already been mentioned. The truth was that the people of Arabia should have learned a lesson from history and refrained from disbelief and polytheism, but they persisted in their arrogance. Therefore, it is said in amazement: Has it not guided them that We destroyed many generations before them, in whose dwellings they walk about, and from seeing them it is clear that those people were far more advanced than them in stature, industry, agriculture, strength, and skill? The cities of Salih, the pyramids of Egypt, and other ancient relics bear witness that such powerful people have never been created again. See Surah Al-Fajr (6–14) and Surah Ar-Rum (9, 10). Even after seeing the traces of these people with their own eyes and hearing from their forefathers, through continuous transmission, about their strength, awe, and the incidents of their destruction by divine punishment, do they not understand what will happen to them if they persist in their ways?
➍ The explanation of {اِنَّ فِيْ ذٰلِكَ لَاٰيٰتٍ لِّاُولِي النُّهٰى : ’’ النُّهٰى ‘‘} is found in verse (54) of this surah. {’’ النُّهٰى ‘‘} is translated as "those of intellect" because it is a plural, and {’’ لَاٰيٰتٍ ‘‘} is translated as "many great signs" because the tanween is for magnification.
➋ By "qurūn" are meant 'Ad and Thamud, because the Arabs, when traveling to Yemen, Najran, and the surrounding areas, would pass by the dwellings of the people of 'Ad. The Prophet (peace be upon him) and his noble companions (may Allah be pleased with them) passed by the houses of Thamud during the expedition of Tabuk. Similarly, on these journeys, the destroyed settlements of the people of Lot and the people of Madyan were located on the main highway, from where they would pass morning and evening. See Surah Al-Hijr (76–79) and As-Saffat (33–38).
➌ In this surah, the people who denied the prophets and their terrible end have already been mentioned. The truth was that the people of Arabia should have learned a lesson from history and refrained from disbelief and polytheism, but they persisted in their arrogance. Therefore, it is said in amazement: Has it not guided them that We destroyed many generations before them, in whose dwellings they walk about, and from seeing them it is clear that those people were far more advanced than them in stature, industry, agriculture, strength, and skill? The cities of Salih, the pyramids of Egypt, and other ancient relics bear witness that such powerful people have never been created again. See Surah Al-Fajr (6–14) and Surah Ar-Rum (9, 10). Even after seeing the traces of these people with their own eyes and hearing from their forefathers, through continuous transmission, about their strength, awe, and the incidents of their destruction by divine punishment, do they not understand what will happen to them if they persist in their ways?
➍ The explanation of {اِنَّ فِيْ ذٰلِكَ لَاٰيٰتٍ لِّاُولِي النُّهٰى : ’’ النُّهٰى ‘‘} is found in verse (54) of this surah. {’’ النُّهٰى ‘‘} is translated as "those of intellect" because it is a plural, and {’’ لَاٰيٰتٍ ‘‘} is translated as "many great signs" because the tanween is for magnification.
