سُوْرَةُ الدُّخَانِ
Surah Ad-Dukhaan (44) — Ayah 37
أَهُمْ خَيْرٌ أَمْ قَوْمُ تُبَّعٍ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ أَهْلَكْنَـٰهُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ مُجْرِمِينَ ﴿37﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Are they better or the people of Tubba‘ and those before them? We destroyed them because they were indeed Mujrimûn (disbelievers, polytheists, sinners, criminals).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَهُمْ
ahum
Are they
خَيْرٌ
khayrun
better
أَمْ
am
or
قَوْمُ
qawmu
(the) people
تُبَّعٍۢ
tubbaʿin
(of) Tubba
وَٱلَّذِينَ
wa-alladhīna
and those
مِن
min
before them
قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ
qablihim
before them
أَهْلَكْنَـٰهُمْ ۖ
ahlaknāhum
We destroyed them
إِنَّهُمْ
innahum
indeed, they
كَانُوا۟
kānū
were
مُجْرِمِينَ
muj'rimīna
criminals
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 37) ➊ { اَهُمْ خَيْرٌ اَمْ قَوْمُ تُبَّعٍ:} Tubba‘ was the title of the kings of the Himyar tribe of Yemen, just as Kisra was the title of the kings of Persia, Caesar for the kings of Rome, Pharaoh for the kings of Egypt, and Najashi for the kings of Abyssinia. This Tubba‘, the king of Himyar, was a believer, and his people were disbelievers, so the condemnation is of his people, not of him.
➋ {وَ الَّذِيْنَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ:} By the former people are meant ‘Ad and Thamud, the people of Ibrahim, the people of Lut, the companions of Madyan, and the people of Pharaoh, etc.
➌ { اَهْلَكْنٰهُمْ اِنَّهُمْ كَانُوْا مُجْرِمِيْنَ:} This is a historical answer to the objection of the disbelievers: that any person or nation that denies the Hereafter cannot be prevented from becoming criminal, because they have no concern for accountability; they run unchecked after their desires. Then, as a result of their rebellion, oppression, and transgression, they are wiped out like a wrong letter. As for the statement, “Are these better or the people of Tubba‘ and those before them,” it means that these disbelievers of Makkah have not even reached the prosperity, power, and glory that the people of Tubba‘ and the nations before them had. When their prosperity could not save them from the downfall that befell them due to their denial of the Resurrection, then what significance do these poor people have?
➋ {وَ الَّذِيْنَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ:} By the former people are meant ‘Ad and Thamud, the people of Ibrahim, the people of Lut, the companions of Madyan, and the people of Pharaoh, etc.
➌ { اَهْلَكْنٰهُمْ اِنَّهُمْ كَانُوْا مُجْرِمِيْنَ:} This is a historical answer to the objection of the disbelievers: that any person or nation that denies the Hereafter cannot be prevented from becoming criminal, because they have no concern for accountability; they run unchecked after their desires. Then, as a result of their rebellion, oppression, and transgression, they are wiped out like a wrong letter. As for the statement, “Are these better or the people of Tubba‘ and those before them,” it means that these disbelievers of Makkah have not even reached the prosperity, power, and glory that the people of Tubba‘ and the nations before them had. When their prosperity could not save them from the downfall that befell them due to their denial of the Resurrection, then what significance do these poor people have?
