سُوْرَةُ الْقَصَصِ
Surah Al-Qasas (28) — Ayah 59
وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ مُهْلِكَ ٱلْقُرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ يَبْعَثَ فِىٓ أُمِّهَا رَسُولًا يَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا ۚ وَمَا كُنَّا مُهْلِكِى ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ إِلَّا وَأَهْلُهَا ظَـٰلِمُونَ ﴿59﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And never will your Lord destroy the towns (populations) until He sends to their mother town a Messenger reciting to them Our Verses. And never would We destroy the towns unless the people thereof are Zâlimûn (polytheists, wrong-doers, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh, oppressors and tyrants).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَمَا
wamā
And not
كَانَ
kāna
was
رَبُّكَ
rabbuka
your Lord
مُهْلِكَ
muh'lika
(the) one to destroy
ٱلْقُرَىٰ
l-qurā
the towns
حَتَّىٰ
ḥattā
until
يَبْعَثَ
yabʿatha
He (had) sent
فِىٓ
fī
in
أُمِّهَا
ummihā
their mother (town)
رَسُولًۭا
rasūlan
a Messenger
يَتْلُوا۟
yatlū
reciting
عَلَيْهِمْ
ʿalayhim
to them
ءَايَـٰتِنَا ۚ
āyātinā
Our Verses
وَمَا
wamā
And not
كُنَّا
kunnā
We would be
مُهْلِكِى
muh'likī
(the) one to destroy
ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ
l-qurā
the towns
إِلَّا
illā
except
وَأَهْلُهَا
wa-ahluhā
while their people
ظَـٰلِمُونَ
ẓālimūna
(were) wrongdoers
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
59. And your Lord would never destroy a town until He had sent a messenger to its central city [82], reciting to them Our verses. And We would never destroy a town except when its people were wrongdoers.
[82]
The Third Answer to the Objection, The Principle Regarding Punishment or Destruction:
This is, in fact, the third answer to the objection of the disbelievers of Makkah. Their objection was that if they accepted faith, they would be destroyed politically and economically. In this verse, Allah Almighty has stated His principle regarding the destruction of any nation: why it comes and when it comes. And that principle is that first, We send Our Messenger to a central city or capital. The central location is chosen because, firstly, the surrounding populations are connected to it, and secondly, the people of the central city are relatively more educated. They can understand things quickly and are also more civilized compared to villagers. Then this Messenger conveys Allah’s message to the people of this central settlement and recites Allah’s verses to them. Now, if the people do not accept the invitation of this Messenger and choose the path of disobedience, denial, and rebellion, then after this completion of proof, that settlement is destroyed. Therefore, O people of Makkah! Your belief that you will be destroyed by accepting Islam is completely wrong. Rather, the reality is the opposite: after the advent of this Messenger, if you choose rebellion, then in that case your destruction will occur, and you yourselves will be responsible for that destruction.
[82]
The Third Answer to the Objection, The Principle Regarding Punishment or Destruction:
This is, in fact, the third answer to the objection of the disbelievers of Makkah. Their objection was that if they accepted faith, they would be destroyed politically and economically. In this verse, Allah Almighty has stated His principle regarding the destruction of any nation: why it comes and when it comes. And that principle is that first, We send Our Messenger to a central city or capital. The central location is chosen because, firstly, the surrounding populations are connected to it, and secondly, the people of the central city are relatively more educated. They can understand things quickly and are also more civilized compared to villagers. Then this Messenger conveys Allah’s message to the people of this central settlement and recites Allah’s verses to them. Now, if the people do not accept the invitation of this Messenger and choose the path of disobedience, denial, and rebellion, then after this completion of proof, that settlement is destroyed. Therefore, O people of Makkah! Your belief that you will be destroyed by accepting Islam is completely wrong. Rather, the reality is the opposite: after the advent of this Messenger, if you choose rebellion, then in that case your destruction will occur, and you yourselves will be responsible for that destruction.
