وَمَا تَأْتِيهِم مِّنْ ءَايَةٍ
مِّنْ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَّا كَانُوا۟
عَنْهَا مُعْرِضِينَ
فَقَدْ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِٱلْحَقِّ لَمَّا
جَآءَهُمْ ۖ فَسَوْفَ يَأْتِيهِمْ أَنۢبَـٰٓؤُا۟
مَا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ
أَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا
مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّن قَرْنٍ مَّكَّنَّـٰهُمْ
فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مَا لَمْ نُمَكِّن
لَّكُمْ وَأَرْسَلْنَا ٱلسَّمَآءَ
عَلَيْهِم مِّدْرَارًا وَجَعَلْنَا
ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرَ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهِمْ
فَأَهْلَكْنَـٰهُم بِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَأَنشَأْنَا
مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ قَرْنًا ءَاخَرِينَ
And never an Ayah comes
to them from the Ayat of
their Lord, but that they
have been turning away
from it. Indeed, they
rejected the truth when
it came to them, but there
will come to them
the news of that which
they used to mock at.
Have they not seen how
many a generation before
them We have destroyed
whom We had established
on the earth such as
We have not established
you And We poured out
on them rain from the sky
in abundance, and made
the rivers flow under them.
Yet We destroyed them for
their sins, and created after
them other generations.
Threatening the Idolators for their Stubbornness
Allah states that the rebellious, stubborn polytheists will turn away from every Ayat, meaning, sign, miracle and proof that is evidence of Allah’s Uniqueness and the truth of His honorable Messengers. They will not contemplate about these Ayat or care about them. Allah said,
فَقَدْ كَذَّبُواْ بِالْحَقِّ لَمَّا
جَآءَهُمْ فَسَوْفَ يَأْتِيهِمْ أَنْبَاءُ
مَا كَانُواْ بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ
Indeed, they rejected the truth when it came to them, but there will come to them the news of that which they used to mock at.
This Ayat contains a warning and a stern threat for the disbelievers’ rejection of the truth, stating that the disbelievers will surely know the truth of what they used to deny and taste the evil end of their behavior. Allah advises and warns the disbelievers, that they should avoid the torments and afflictions of this life, similar to what befell their likes from previous nations, who were stronger, wealthier, had more offspring, and were more exploitive on the earth. Allah said,
أَلَمْ يَرَوْاْ كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا
مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّن قَرْنٍ مَّكَّنَّـهُمْ
فِى الاٌّرْضِ مَا لَمْ نُمَكِّن لَّكُمْ
Have they not seen how many a generation before them We have destroyed whom We had established on the earth such as We have not established you
meaning, they had more wealth, children, buildings, abundant provision, riches and soldiers. Allah said next,
وَأَرْسَلْنَا السَّمَآءَ عَلَيْهِم مَّدْرَاراً
and We poured out on them rain from the sky in abundance
in reference to rain that comes often,
وَجَعَلْنَا الاٌّنْهَـرَ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهِمْ
And made the rivers flow under them
as rain was abundant and the springs were plentiful, so that We deceived them.
فَأَهْلَكْنَـهُمْ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ
Yet We destroyed them for their sins
meaning the mistakes and errors that they committed,
وَأَنْشَأْنَا مِن بَعْدِهِمْ قَرْناً ءَاخَرِينَ
and created after them other generations
for, these generations of old perished and became as legends and stories,
وَأَنْشَأْنَا مِن بَعْدِهِمْ قَرْناً ءَاخَرِينَ
And created after them other generations
so that We test the new generations, as well. Yet, they committed similar errors and were destroyed, as their ancestors were destroyed. Therefore, beware of the same end that might befall you, for you are not dearer to Allah than these previous nations, but the Messenger whom you defied is dearer to Allah than the Messengers they defied. Thus, you are more liable than them to receive torment, if it was not for Allah’s mercy and kindness.