سُوْرَةُ الزُّخْرُفِ
Surah Az-Zukhruf (43) — Ayah 8
فَأَهْلَكْنَآ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُم بَطْشًا وَمَضَىٰ مَثَلُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ ﴿8﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Then We destroyed men stronger (in power) than these - and the example of the ancients has passed away (before them).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَأَهْلَكْنَآ
fa-ahlaknā
Then We destroyed
أَشَدَّ
ashadda
stronger
مِنْهُم
min'hum
than them
بَطْشًۭا
baṭshan
(in) power
وَمَضَىٰ
wamaḍā
and has passed
مَثَلُ
mathalu
(the) example
ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
l-awalīna
(of) the former (people)
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 8) ➊ { فَاَهْلَكْنَاۤ اَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ بَطْشًا:} That is, what is the status of these disbelievers of Makkah? We destroyed those people who were far greater than them in strength and power. If they do not desist from their ways, they should also consider their own end. In {’’ اَنْ كُنْتُمْ قَوْمًا مُّسْرِفِيْنَ ‘‘}, the Quraysh of Makkah were addressed directly, but now in {’’ اَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ بَطْشًا ‘‘}, they are mentioned in the third person; this is a rhetorical shift, intended to express displeasure.
➋ { وَ مَضٰى مَثَلُ الْاَوَّلِيْنَ:} That is, in the Qur’an, the example of such previous people has already passed. {’’ مَثَلُ ‘‘} also means attribute and condition, that is, the condition of the previous people has passed, such as the people of Nuh, ‘Ad, Thamud, etc. {’’مَضٰي يَمْضِيْ‘‘} means to flow or to proceed, that is, the example of the previous people has spread and their stories have become well-known, which people have continued to narrate generation after generation.
➋ { وَ مَضٰى مَثَلُ الْاَوَّلِيْنَ:} That is, in the Qur’an, the example of such previous people has already passed. {’’ مَثَلُ ‘‘} also means attribute and condition, that is, the condition of the previous people has passed, such as the people of Nuh, ‘Ad, Thamud, etc. {’’مَضٰي يَمْضِيْ‘‘} means to flow or to proceed, that is, the example of the previous people has spread and their stories have become well-known, which people have continued to narrate generation after generation.
