سُوْرَةُ اٰلِ عِمْرٰنَ
Surah Aal-i-Imraan (3) — Ayah 138
هَـٰذَا بَيَانٌ لِّلنَّاسِ وَهُدًى وَمَوْعِظَةٌ لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿138﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
This (the Qur’ân) is a plain statement for mankind, a guidance and instruction to those who are Al-Muttaqûn (the pious - See V.2:2).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
هَـٰذَا
hādhā
This
بَيَانٌۭ
bayānun
(is) a declaration
لِّلنَّاسِ
lilnnāsi
for the people
وَهُدًۭى
wahudan
and guidance
وَمَوْعِظَةٌۭ
wamawʿiẓatun
and admonition
لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ
lil'muttaqīna
for the God-fearing
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.
138. These are clear lessons for mankind, and guidance and admonition for the God-fearing [124].
[124]
How Do Different Civilizations and Nations Rise and Fall?
That is, such events are merely considered a historical account by common people. Those whose hearts lack the fear of Allah suffice by saying that various civilizations have come into being and perished. There was a Greek civilization, a Roman civilization, an Indian civilization, an Egyptian civilization, a Babylonian civilization, and the natural lifespan of each civilization is about a thousand years. When its time is up, that civilization perishes and is replaced by a new one which then dominates the world. There is a major misconception in this historical account: the lifespan of every civilization is not a thousand years or approximately a thousand years. In fact, it can be much less or much more than that. Then, they do not bother to think about how these civilizations come into being and why they decline. The Quran has answered this question by stating that there is no nation in this world to whom Allah did not send a messenger. [35: 24] Then, as long as a nation adheres to the teachings of its messenger, that is its period of ascendancy. And when that same nation becomes engrossed in luxury, immorality, shamelessness, and sinful acts—which they call “civilization” in their language—then its decline gradually begins, or if it becomes deeply immersed in sins, a sudden punishment destroys and ruins them. And whenever those who fear Allah reflect on the rise and fall of any nation, they do so according to this perspective, and they take lessons and guidance from such events. This subject has been mentioned here in the context that the same fate awaits the polytheists of Makkah, the Jews, their allies, and the hypocrites—whoever denies the signs of Allah and has confronted the Muslims.
[124]
How Do Different Civilizations and Nations Rise and Fall?
That is, such events are merely considered a historical account by common people. Those whose hearts lack the fear of Allah suffice by saying that various civilizations have come into being and perished. There was a Greek civilization, a Roman civilization, an Indian civilization, an Egyptian civilization, a Babylonian civilization, and the natural lifespan of each civilization is about a thousand years. When its time is up, that civilization perishes and is replaced by a new one which then dominates the world. There is a major misconception in this historical account: the lifespan of every civilization is not a thousand years or approximately a thousand years. In fact, it can be much less or much more than that. Then, they do not bother to think about how these civilizations come into being and why they decline. The Quran has answered this question by stating that there is no nation in this world to whom Allah did not send a messenger. [35: 24] Then, as long as a nation adheres to the teachings of its messenger, that is its period of ascendancy. And when that same nation becomes engrossed in luxury, immorality, shamelessness, and sinful acts—which they call “civilization” in their language—then its decline gradually begins, or if it becomes deeply immersed in sins, a sudden punishment destroys and ruins them. And whenever those who fear Allah reflect on the rise and fall of any nation, they do so according to this perspective, and they take lessons and guidance from such events. This subject has been mentioned here in the context that the same fate awaits the polytheists of Makkah, the Jews, their allies, and the hypocrites—whoever denies the signs of Allah and has confronted the Muslims.
