سُوْرَةُ الرُّوْمِ
Surah Ar-Room (30) — Ayah 9
أَوَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ كَانُوٓا۟ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً وَأَثَارُوا۟ ٱلْأَرْضَ وَعَمَرُوهَآ أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا عَمَرُوهَا وَجَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ ۖ فَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَـٰكِن كَانُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ ﴿9﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Do they not travel in the land, and see what was the end of those before them? They were superior to them in strength, and they tilled the earth and populated it in greater numbers than these (pagans) have done: and there came to them their Messengers with clear proofs. Surely, Allâh wronged them not, but they used to wrong themselves.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَوَلَمْ
awalam
Have not
يَسِيرُوا۟
yasīrū
they traveled
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْأَرْضِ
l-arḍi
the earth
فَيَنظُرُوا۟
fayanẓurū
and observed
كَيْفَ
kayfa
how
كَانَ
kāna
was
عَـٰقِبَةُ
ʿāqibatu
(the) end
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
(of) those
مِن
min
before them
قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ
qablihim
before them
كَانُوٓا۟
kānū
They were
أَشَدَّ
ashadda
mightier
مِنْهُمْ
min'hum
than them
قُوَّةًۭ
quwwatan
(in) strength
وَأَثَارُوا۟
wa-athārū
and they dug
ٱلْأَرْضَ
l-arḍa
the earth
وَعَمَرُوهَآ
waʿamarūhā
and built (on) it
أَكْثَرَ
akthara
more
مِمَّا
mimmā
than what
عَمَرُوهَا
ʿamarūhā
they have built (on) it
وَجَآءَتْهُمْ
wajāathum
And came (to) them
رُسُلُهُم
rusuluhum
their Messengers
بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ ۖ
bil-bayināti
with clear proofs
فَمَا
famā
So not
كَانَ
kāna
was
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ
liyaẓlimahum
to wrong them
وَلَـٰكِن
walākin
but
كَانُوٓا۟
kānū
they were
أَنفُسَهُمْ
anfusahum
themselves
يَظْلِمُونَ
yaẓlimūna
(doing) wrong
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.
9. Have they not traveled through the land and seen what was the end of those before them? They were stronger than them in power, and they cultivated the earth and developed it more than these have [7]. Their messengers [8] came to them with clear proofs. Allah did not wrong them, but they wronged themselves.
[7] That is, the edifice of oppression is always built upon the foundation of denying the Hereafter. And the common factor among all those oppressive nations whom Allah destroyed was that they were deniers of the Hereafter. Because any person or nation that believes in being accountable before Allah for their deeds in the Hereafter can never commit oppression. Among those destroyed nations, there were people who were much more powerful than you. They were experts in worldly sciences. They had made great progress in the field of agriculture and had extracted treasures from the earth. And in terms of civilization and culture, they were far more advanced than you. But when they became determined upon oppression and excess, Allah utterly destroyed them. Now, O disbelievers of Makkah! If you also choose the same path of rebellion and oppression, then what reason is there that your end should not be the same?
[8] That is, firstly, there were proofs for the necessity of the Hereafter within yourselves, secondly, there were proofs present in the universe, and thirdly, Allah showed mercy upon you by sending messengers who kept warning you about the realities that would occur after death. Yet, if you still become deniers of the Hereafter and ruin your own fate, then the fault lies with you alone. Allah never wrongs or oppresses anyone.
[7] That is, the edifice of oppression is always built upon the foundation of denying the Hereafter. And the common factor among all those oppressive nations whom Allah destroyed was that they were deniers of the Hereafter. Because any person or nation that believes in being accountable before Allah for their deeds in the Hereafter can never commit oppression. Among those destroyed nations, there were people who were much more powerful than you. They were experts in worldly sciences. They had made great progress in the field of agriculture and had extracted treasures from the earth. And in terms of civilization and culture, they were far more advanced than you. But when they became determined upon oppression and excess, Allah utterly destroyed them. Now, O disbelievers of Makkah! If you also choose the same path of rebellion and oppression, then what reason is there that your end should not be the same?
[8] That is, firstly, there were proofs for the necessity of the Hereafter within yourselves, secondly, there were proofs present in the universe, and thirdly, Allah showed mercy upon you by sending messengers who kept warning you about the realities that would occur after death. Yet, if you still become deniers of the Hereafter and ruin your own fate, then the fault lies with you alone. Allah never wrongs or oppresses anyone.
