Al-Qur'an Surah Maryam Verse 74

Mufti Taqi Usmani

How many a generation We have destroyed before them who were better in assets and outlook!

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

˹Imagine, O  Prophet˺ how many peoples We have destroyed before them, who were far better in luxury and splendour!

Ruwwad Translation Center

How many generations We have destroyed before them who were superior in terms of wealth and outward appearance!

A. J. Arberry

And how many a generation We destroyed before them, who were fairer in furnishing and outward show!

Abdul Haleem

We have destroyed many a generation before them who surpassed them in riches and outward glitter!

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And how many a generation have We destroyed before these, who were goodlier in goods and outward appearance? *Chapter: 19

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

But how many (countless) generations before them have we destroyed, who were even better in equipment and in glitter to the eye?

Abul Ala Maududi

How numerous are the peoples We destroyed before them - those that were more resourceful and grander in outward appearance!

Ahmed Ali

How many generations that had far more wealth and ostentation have We laid low before them!

Ahmed Raza Khan

And many a generation We did destroy before them, who exceeded them in wealth and pomp!

Ali Quli Qarai

How many a generation We have destroyed before them, who were superior in furnishings and appearance!

Ali Ünal

And yet, how many a generation have We destroyed before them who were superior in respect of possessions and outward show!

Amatul Rahman Omar

And how many a generation have We destroyed before them, who were better off in assets and better in outward show and splendour (than these).

English Literal

And how many We destroyed from before them from people of one era/generation/century? They are better home effects/money and appearance/pleasant appearance.

Faridul Haque

And many a generation We did destroy before them, who exceeded them in wealth and pomp!

Hamid S. Aziz

And when Our clear revelations are recited to them, those who disbelieve say to those who believe, "Which of the two parties (your s or mine) is best placed and in the best company?"

Hilali & Khan

And how many a generation (past nations) have We destroyed before them, who were better in wealth, goods and outward appearance?

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And when our clear messages are recited to them, those who disbelieve say to those who believe: Which of the two parties is better in position and better in assembly?

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And how many of the generations have We destroyed before them who were better in respect of goods and outward appearance!

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

How many a generation have We destroyed before them, who were more imposing in respect of gear and outward seeming!

Muhammad Sarwar

How many generations of greater prosperity and splendor have We destroyed before them?

Qaribullah & Darwish

How many generations have We destroyed before them, who were far greater in riches and more boastful!

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And how many a generation have We destroyed before them, who were better in wealth, goods and outward appearance

Wahiduddin Khan

We have destroyed so many generations before them, who surpassed them in material power and splendour.

Talal Itani

How many a generation have We destroyed before them, who surpassed them in riches and splendor?

Tafsir jalalayn

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].

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

This is why Allah refuted their doubts;

وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّن قَرْنٍ

And how many a generations have We destroyed before them!

This means, "How many nations and generations did We destroy of those who denied (this message) due to their disbelief."

...
هُمْ أَحْسَنُ أَثَاثًا وَرِيْيًا

who were better in wealth, goods and outward appearance.

This means that they were better than these present people in wealth, possessions, looks and appearance.

Al-A`mash reported from Abu Zibyan, who reported from Ibn Abbas that he said concerning the Ayah,
خَيْرٌ مَّقَامًا وَأَحْسَنُ نَدِيًّا
(best dwellings and finest Nadiyyan),

"Position (Maqam) means home,

Nadi means place of gathering,

wealth refers to material possessions and

outward appearance is how they look physically."

Al-Awfi said that Ibn Abbas said,

"Position (Maqam) means dwelling,

Nadi means place of gathering and the blessing and happiness that they were living in.

This is as Allah says about the people of Fir`awn when He destroyed them and related the story of their situation in the Qur'an,

كَمْ تَرَكُواْ مِن جَنَّـتٍ وَعُيُونٍ

وَزُرُوعٍ وَمَقَامٍ كَرِيمٍ

How many gardens and springs that they (Fir`awn's people) left behind, and green crops and honored places (Maqam). (44;25-26)

Therefore,

position (Maqam) refers to their dwellings and splendid bounties, and

Nadi is the places of gathering and meeting where they used to congregate.

Allah said while relating the story to His Messenger of what happened with the people of Lut,

وَتَأْتُونَ فِى نَادِيكُمُ الْمُنْكَرَ

And practice Al-Munkar (evil deeds) in your meeting places (Nadiyakum). (29;29)

The Arabs call a place of gathering a Nadi."