سُوْرَةُ الْاَعْرَافِ
Surah Al-A'raaf (7) — Ayah 4
وَكَم مِّن قَرْيَةٍ أَهْلَكْنَـٰهَا فَجَآءَهَا بَأْسُنَا بَيَـٰتًا أَوْ هُمْ قَآئِلُونَ ﴿4﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And a great number of towns (their population) We destroyed (for their crimes). Our torment came upon them (suddenly) by night or while they were taking their midday nap.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَكَم
wakam
And how many
مِّن
min
of
قَرْيَةٍ
qaryatin
a city
أَهْلَكْنَـٰهَا
ahlaknāhā
We destroyed it
فَجَآءَهَا
fajāahā
and came to it
بَأْسُنَا
basunā
Our punishment
بَيَـٰتًا
bayātan
(at) night
أَوْ
aw
or
هُمْ
hum
(while) they
قَآئِلُونَ
qāilūna
were sleeping at noon
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 4){ وَ كَمْ مِّنْ قَرْيَةٍ اَهْلَكْنٰهَا …… :} In the previous verse, it was said that you accept very little admonition; here it is said that look, for admonition and lesson, how many towns are before you, which We destroyed due to worshipping others besides Allah and denying the messengers. Among them, some were those who were sleeping peacefully at night when Our punishment came upon them, as in the case of the people of Lot, and some were those who were resting at noon, like the people of Shu‘ayb (peace be upon him). Punishment that comes in a state of comfort and unawareness is more terrifying, meaning these disbelievers should not be proud of their prosperity; Allah’s punishment can suddenly seize them and no one knows its time. See Surah Al-A‘raf (97, 98) and Surah An-Nahl (45 to 47).
