سُوْرَةُ الْمُؤْمِنِ
Surah Ghafir (40) — Ayah 82
أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ كَانُوٓا۟ أَكْثَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَأَشَدَّ قُوَّةً وَءَاثَارًا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَمَآ أَغْنَىٰ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ ﴿82﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Have they not travelled through the earth and seen what was the end of those before them? They were more in number than them and mightier in strength, and in the traces (they have left behind them) in the land; yet all that they used to earn availed them not.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَفَلَمْ
afalam
Do they not
يَسِيرُوا۟
yasīrū
travel
فِى
fī
through
ٱلْأَرْضِ
l-arḍi
the land
فَيَنظُرُوا۟
fayanẓurū
and see
كَيْفَ
kayfa
how
كَانَ
kāna
was
عَـٰقِبَةُ
ʿāqibatu
(the) end
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
(of) those who
مِن
min
(were) before them
قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ
qablihim
(were) before them
كَانُوٓا۟
kānū
They were
أَكْثَرَ
akthara
more numerous
مِنْهُمْ
min'hum
than them
وَأَشَدَّ
wa-ashadda
and mightier
قُوَّةًۭ
quwwatan
(in) strength
وَءَاثَارًۭا
waāthāran
and impressions
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْأَرْضِ
l-arḍi
the land
فَمَآ
famā
but not
أَغْنَىٰ
aghnā
availed
عَنْهُم
ʿanhum
them
مَّا
mā
what
كَانُوا۟
kānū
they used to
يَكْسِبُونَ
yaksibūna
earn
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.
82. Have they not traveled through the land and seen what was the end of those who came before them? They were more numerous than them, stronger in power, and left greater traces on the earth [102], yet all these things were of no avail to them.
[102]
The Grandeur of Previous Nations:
The previous nations surpassed these disbelievers of Makkah by far in stature, physical strength, architecture, and agriculture. And these people are nothing compared to them. But when those nations denied the messengers of Allah and, instead of acknowledging Allah’s favor, turned to rebellion, then when Allah’s punishment came upon them, all their qualities, grandeur, and glory amounted to nothing. So, being weaker and lesser than them, why are you showing such arrogance? And how will you be able to escape the consequences of your deeds?
[102]
The Grandeur of Previous Nations:
The previous nations surpassed these disbelievers of Makkah by far in stature, physical strength, architecture, and agriculture. And these people are nothing compared to them. But when those nations denied the messengers of Allah and, instead of acknowledging Allah’s favor, turned to rebellion, then when Allah’s punishment came upon them, all their qualities, grandeur, and glory amounted to nothing. So, being weaker and lesser than them, why are you showing such arrogance? And how will you be able to escape the consequences of your deeds?
