Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Baqarah Verse 66

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Thus, We made it a deterrent for those around and (those who came) after them - and a lesson for the God-fearing.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

So We made their fate an example to present and future generations, and a lesson to the God-fearing.

Ruwwad Translation Center

So We made it a deterrent punishment for those alive and for those who succeeded them, and an admonition for the righteous.

A. J. Arberry

And We made it a punishment exemplary for all the former times and for the latter, and an admonition to such as are godfearing.

Abdul Haleem

We made this an example to those people who were there at the time and to those who came after them, and a lesson to all who are mindful of God.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And We made it a deterrent unto those of their day and those after them, and an exhortation unto the God-fearing.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

So We made it an example to their own time and to their posterity, and a lesson to those who fear Allah.

Abul Ala Maududi

Thus We made their end a warning to the people of their time and succeeding generations, and an admonition for God-fearing people.

Ahmed Ali

And whom We made an example for the people (of the day) and those after them, and warning for those who fear God.

Ahmed Raza Khan

So We made this incident (of that town) a warning to the surrounding towns (others of their time) and to succeeding generations, and a lesson for the pious.

Ali Quli Qarai

So We made it an exemplary punishment for the present and the succeeding [generations], and an advice to the Godwary.

Ali Ünal

We made it a severe affliction exemplary for their own generations and those to follow them, and instruction and guidance for the God-revering, pious.

Amatul Rahman Omar

Thus We made this (incident) an example to learn a lesson from, for those present at the time (of its occurrence) and (also) for those who came after it and an admonition to all those who guard against evil.

English Literal

So We made it (a) severe exemplary punishment for what (is) between its hands and what (is) behind it, and (an) advice/warning , to the fearing and obeying.

Faridul Haque

So We made this incident (of that town) a warning to the surrounding towns (others of their time) and to succeeding generations, and a lesson for the pious.

Hamid S. Aziz

Thus We made them an example unto those who stood before them, and those who should come after them, and a warning unto those who fear Allah.

Hilali & Khan

So We made this punishment an example to their own and to succeeding generations and a lesson to those who are Al-Muttaqun (the pious - see V. 2:2).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

So We made them an example to those who witnessed it and those who came after it and an admonition to those who guard against evil.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

So We made them an example to those who witnessed it and those who came after it, and an admonition to those who guard (against evil).

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And We made it an example to their own and to succeeding generations, and an admonition to the Allah-fearing.

Muhammad Sarwar

in order to set up an example for their contemporaries and coming generations and to make it a reminder for the pious.

Qaribullah & Darwish

We made it a punishment for the former times and for the latter, an exhortation to the cautious.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

So We made this punishment an example for those in front of it and those behind it, and a lesson for Al-Muttaqin (the pious).

Wahiduddin Khan

We made their fate an example to their own generation and to those who followed them and a lesson to those who fear God.

Talal Itani

Thus We made it a deterrent for their generation, and for subsequent generations, and a lesson for the righteous.

Tafsir jalalayn

And We made it, this punishment, an exemplary punishment, a lesson to dissuade others from doing what they did; for all the former times and for the latter, that is, for the people of that time or those that came later; and an admonition to such as who fear, God; these are singled out for mention here because they, in contrast to others, are the ones who benefit thereby.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

فَجَعَلْنَاهَا نَكَالاً



So We made this punishment an example,

means, Allah made the people of this village, who violated the sanctity of the Sabbath,
نَكَالاً
(an example) via the way they were punished.

Similarly, Allah said about Pharaoh,

فَأَخَذَهُ اللَّهُ نَكَالَ الاٌّخِرَةِ وَالاٍّوْلَى

So Allah, seized him with punishing example for his last and first transgression. (79;25)

Allah's statement,

لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهَا وَمَا خَلْفَهَا

for those in front of it and those behind it,

meaning, for the other villages.

Ibn Abbas commented,

"Meaning, `We made this village an example for the villages around it by the manner in which We punished its people."'

Similarly, Allah said,

وَلَقَدْ أَهْلَكْنَا مَا حَوْلَكُمْ مِّنَ الْقُرَى وَصَرَّفْنَا الاٌّيَـتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ

And indeed We have destroyed towns (populations) round about you, and We have (repeatedly) shown (them) the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) in various ways that they might return (to the truth and believe in the Oneness of Allah ـ Islamic Monotheism).(46;27)

Therefore, Allah made them an example for those who lived during their time as well as a reminder for those to come, by preserving their story. This is why Allah said,

وَمَوْعِظَةً لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ



and a lesson for Al-Muttaqin (the pious),

meaning, a reminder.

This Ayah means,

"The torment and punishment that this village suffered was a result of indulging in Allah's prohibitions and their deceit. Hence, those who have Taqwa should be aware of their evil behavior, so that what occurred to this village does not befall them as well."

Also, Imam Abu Abdullah bin Battah reported that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

لَاا تَرْتَكِبُوا مَا ارْتَكَبَتِ الْيَهُودُ فَتَسْتَحِلُّوا مَحَارِمَ اللهِ بِأَدْنَى الْحِيَل

Do not commit what the Jews committed, breaching what Allah has forbidden, by resorting to the lowest types of deceit.

This Hadith has a good (Jayid) chain of narration.

Allah knows best