سُوْرَةُ الْاَحْقَافِ
Surah Al-Ahqaf (46) — Ayah 27
وَلَقَدْ أَهْلَكْنَا مَا حَوْلَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْقُرَىٰ وَصَرَّفْنَا ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ ﴿27﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And indeed We have destroyed towns (populations) round about you, and We have (repeatedly) shown (them) the Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) in various ways that they might return (to the truth and believe in the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَقَدْ
walaqad
And certainly
أَهْلَكْنَا
ahlaknā
We destroyed
مَا
mā
what
حَوْلَكُم
ḥawlakum
surrounds you
مِّنَ
mina
of
ٱلْقُرَىٰ
l-qurā
the towns
وَصَرَّفْنَا
waṣarrafnā
and We have diversified
ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ
l-āyāti
the Signs
لَعَلَّهُمْ
laʿallahum
that they may
يَرْجِعُونَ
yarjiʿūna
return
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 27) ➊ { وَ لَقَدْ اَهْلَكْنَا مَا حَوْلَكُمْ مِّنَ الْقُرٰى:} It is human nature to take heed by observing others, therefore Allah Almighty addressed the people of Makkah and said: Look at the towns around you and see how many nations have been destroyed and how they have received the consequences of their deeds. By "around you" is meant Ahqaf, which is in the region of Hadramaut in Yemen; look at the fate of the people of 'Ad who lived there. See what happened to Thamud between you and Syria at the place of Hijr. Reflect on the fate of the people of Saba in Yemen. Madyan, which is between you and Gaza, you pass by there, and the towns of the people of Lut also fall on your route. All these incidents were well-known and famous in Arabia. (Ibn Kathir)
➋ { وَ صَرَّفْنَا الْاٰيٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُوْنَ:} Its explanation can be in two ways: one is that We have repeatedly and in various ways explained the signs to the inhabitants of these towns, so that they may turn back. The second is that Allah Almighty is saying about the disbelievers of Makkah that We have repeatedly explained the signs to them, so that they may turn away from disbelief and polytheism. In this case, there is a shift in address, that in the previous sentence {’’ وَ لَقَدْ اَهْلَكْنَا مَا حَوْلَكُمْ مِّنَ الْقُرٰى ‘‘} the disbelievers of Makkah were addressed, then in {’’ وَ صَرَّفْنَا الْاٰيٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُوْنَ ‘‘} their mention is made in the third person to express displeasure.
➋ { وَ صَرَّفْنَا الْاٰيٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُوْنَ:} Its explanation can be in two ways: one is that We have repeatedly and in various ways explained the signs to the inhabitants of these towns, so that they may turn back. The second is that Allah Almighty is saying about the disbelievers of Makkah that We have repeatedly explained the signs to them, so that they may turn away from disbelief and polytheism. In this case, there is a shift in address, that in the previous sentence {’’ وَ لَقَدْ اَهْلَكْنَا مَا حَوْلَكُمْ مِّنَ الْقُرٰى ‘‘} the disbelievers of Makkah were addressed, then in {’’ وَ صَرَّفْنَا الْاٰيٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُوْنَ ‘‘} their mention is made in the third person to express displeasure.
