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 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 21) ➊ { اَوَ لَمْ يَسِيْرُوْا فِي الْاَرْضِ … :} In the previous verses, the disbelievers were warned of the punishment of the Hereafter; now they are being warned of the punishment that comes in this world: Have these people not traveled through the land and seen the fate of those nations who were destroyed before them for the crime of denying the prophets?
➋ {كَانُوْا هُمْ اَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً وَّ اٰثَارًا فِي الْاَرْضِ …:} For a detailed explanation of this, see the commentary of Surah Ar-Rum, verse (9).
➌ {وَ مَا كَانَ لَهُمْ مِّنَ اللّٰهِ مِنْ وَّاقٍ: ’’ وَاقٍ ‘‘} The original word is {’’وَاقِيٌ‘‘}, which is an active participle from {’’وَقٰي يَقِيْ وِقَايَةً‘‘} (ض), meaning "one who saves." That is, when Allah's punishment came upon nations stronger and more established than them due to their sins, there was no one to save them from Allah. In the same way, when Allah's punishment comes upon these people, no one will be able to save them either.
➋ {كَانُوْا هُمْ اَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً وَّ اٰثَارًا فِي الْاَرْضِ …:} For a detailed explanation of this, see the commentary of Surah Ar-Rum, verse (9).
➌ {وَ مَا كَانَ لَهُمْ مِّنَ اللّٰهِ مِنْ وَّاقٍ: ’’ وَاقٍ ‘‘} The original word is {’’وَاقِيٌ‘‘}, which is an active participle from {’’وَقٰي يَقِيْ وِقَايَةً‘‘} (ض), meaning "one who saves." That is, when Allah's punishment came upon nations stronger and more established than them due to their sins, there was no one to save them from Allah. In the same way, when Allah's punishment comes upon these people, no one will be able to save them either.
