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Ayah
Word by Word
وَكَمۡ
And how many
أَهۡلَكۡنَا
We destroyed
قَبۡلَهُم
before them
مِّن
of
قَرۡنٍ
a generation
هُمۡ
they
أَحۡسَنُ
(were) better
أَثَٰثٗا
(in) possessions
وَرِءۡيٗا
and appearance
وَكَمۡ
And how many
أَهۡلَكۡنَا
We destroyed
قَبۡلَهُم
before them
مِّن
of
قَرۡنٍ
a generation
هُمۡ
they
أَحۡسَنُ
(were) better
أَثَٰثٗا
(in) possessions
وَرِءۡيٗا
and appearance
Translation
But how many (countless) generations before them have we destroyed, who were even better in equipment and in glitter to the eye?
Tafsir
And how many - in other words, many - a generation, that is, a community from among the communities of the past, have We destroyed before them, who were superior in [their possession of] gear, in wealth and chattel, and in appearance, [superior] as a sight (ri'yan derives from [the infinitive] al-ru'ya). Thus in the same way that We destroyed those [ones] because of their disbelief, We will destroy these [ones also].
The Rebellious Person is given Respite but He is not forgotten
Allah, the Exalted, says,
قُلۡ
Say:
This means, O Muhammad, say to these people who are associating partners with their Lord, while claiming to follow the truth, that they are really following falsehood.
مَن كَانَ فِي الضَّلَلَةِ
whoever is in error,
This means, `be they from us or from you.'
فَلۡيَمۡدُدۡ لَهُ الرَّحۡمَنُ مَدًّا
the Most Gracious will extend (circumstances) for him.
This means that the Most Beneficent will give him respite in that which he is in, until he meets his Lord and his appointed time will have arrived.
حَتَّى إِذَا رَأَوۡا مَا يُوعَدُونَ إِمَّا الۡعَذَابَ
until, when they see that which they were promised, either the torment, (that will strike him),
وَإِمَّا السَّاعَةَ
or the Hour, (that will come suddenly),
فَسَيَعۡلَمُونَ
they will come to know, (at that time),
مَنۡ هُوَ شَرٌّ مَّكَانًا وَأَضۡعَفُ جُندًا
who is worst in position, and who is weaker in forces.
This is in refutation of their argument about their nice dwellings and splendid places of gathering. This is a challenge against the idolators who claim that they were following guidance in what they were doing.
This is similar to the challenge that Allah mentions about the Jews when He says,
يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ هَادُواۡ إِن زَعمۡتُمۡ أَنَّكُمۡ أَوۡلِيَأءُ لِلَّهِ مِن دُونِ النَّاسِ فَتَمَنَّوُاۡ الۡمَوۡتَ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـدِقِينَ
O you Jews! If you pretend that you are friends of Allah, to the exclusion of (all) other people, then long for death if you are truthful. (62:6)
Meaning, `Supplicate for death to come to those who are following falsehood among us if you truly claim to be upon the truth. If you are true, then this supplication will not harm you.' But they refused to do so. An extensive discussion of this has already preceded in Surah Al-Baqarah, and to Allah is the praise.
Likewise, Allah mentioned the challenge that was given to the Christians in Surah Al Imran, when they were persistent in their disbelief and continued in their transgression. They refused to give up their exaggerating claim that `Isa was the son of Allah. Therefore, Allah mentioned His arguments and proofs against the worship of `Isa, and that he was merely a creature like Adam.
After this, Allah said,
فَمَنۡ حَأجَّكَ فِيهِ مِن بَعۡدِ مَا جَأءَكَ مِنَ الۡعِلۡمِ فَقُلۡ تَعَالَوۡاۡ نَدۡعُ أَبۡنَأءَنَا وَأَبۡنَأءَكُمۡ وَنِسَأءَنَا وَنِسَأءَكُمۡ وَأَنفُسَنَا وأَنفُسَكُمۡ ثُمَّ نَبۡتَهِلۡ فَنَجۡعَل لَّعۡنَتُ اللَّهِ عَلَى الۡكَـذِبِينَ
Then whoever disputes with you about him after (all this) knowledge that has come to you, say:Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves - then we pray and invoke (sincerely) the curse of Allah upon those who lie. (3:61)
However, they (the Christians) also retreated from this challenge
Increasing Guidance of Those Who are guided
Allah says:
وَيَزِيدُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ اهۡتَدَوۡا هُدًى
And Allah increases in guidance those who walk aright.
After Allah mentions the extended time and respite that is allowed to those who are in misguidance, increasing them in misguidance, He informs of the increase in guidance of those who are rightly guided.
Similarly He says,
وَإِذَا مَأ أُنزِلَتۡ سُورَةٌ فَمِنۡهُمۡ مَّن يَقُولُ أَيُّكُمۡ زَادَتۡهُ هَـذِهِ إِيمَـناً
And whenever there comes down a Surah, some of them say:Which of you has had his faith increased by it! (9:124)
And the following Ayah also shows this.
Concerning Allah's statement,
وَالۡبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ
And the righteous good deeds that last,
Its explanation has already preceded in Surah Al-Kahf, along with a lengthy discussion concerning it and the related Hadiths.
خَيۡرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا
(they) are better with your Lord for reward.
meaning the recompense and reward.
وَخَيۡرٌ مَّرَدًّا
and better for resort.
meaning in the final outcome, the result for its doer.
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