Al-Qur'an Surah As-Sajdah Verse 26

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Has it not been a source of guidance for them as to how many generations We have destroyed before them who used to walk in their dwellings? Surely in this there are signs. So, do they not listen?

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Is it not yet clear to them how many peoples We destroyed before them, whose ruins they still pass by? Surely in this are signs. Will they not then listen?

Ruwwad Translation Center

Is it not yet clear to them how many generations We destroyed before them, in whose dwellings they now walk about? Indeed, there are signs in this. Do they not then listen?

A. J. Arberry

Is it not a guidance to them, how many generations We destroyed before them in whose dwelling-places they walk? Surely in that are signs; what, will they not hear?

Abdul Haleem

Is it not a lesson for them [to see] how many generations We destroyed before them, in whose homes they now walk? There truly are signs in this- do they not hear?

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Hath this not guided them: how many generations We have destroyed before them amidst whose dwellings they walk? Verily therein are signs; will they not therefore hearken?

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Does it not teach them a lesson, how many generations We destroyed before them, in whose dwellings they (now) go to and fro? Verily in that are Signs; Do they not then listen?

Abul Ala Maududi

Did (these historical events) not make them realise that We destroyed many nations before them amidst whose dwellings they now move about? Surely there are many Signs in this. Are they unable to hear?

Ahmed Ali

Did they not find guidance in the many generations We had destroyed before them, over whose dwellings they (now) walk? There were indeed signs in this. Will they even then not listen?

Ahmed Raza Khan

And did they not obtain guidance by the fact that We did destroy many generations before them, so now they walk in their houses? Indeed in this are signs; so do they not heed?

Ali Quli Qarai

Does it not dawn upon them how many generations We have destroyed before them, amid [the ruins of] whose dwellings they walk? There are indeed signs in that. Will they not then listen?

Ali Ünal

Is it not (enough as a means of) guidance for them (the unbelievers) how many a generation We have destroyed before them, amidst whose dwelling places they travel? Surely in this are signs. Will they still not listen (and pay heed to warnings revealed directly and in these signs)?

Amatul Rahman Omar

Does this (fact) provide them no guidance that We destroyed many a generation in whose (ruined) dwelling places they (now) walk about? There are sure signs in all this. Will they not then listen (and pay heed).

English Literal

Did it not guide for them how many We perished/destroyed from before them from the peoples of eras/centuries , they walk in their residences, that truly in that (are) evidences/signs (E) so do they not hear/listen?

Faridul Haque

And did they not obtain guidance by the fact that We did destroy many generations before them, so now they walk in their houses? Indeed in this are signs; so do they not heed?

Hamid S. Aziz

Surely your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that wherein they differ.

Hilali & Khan

Is it not a guidance for them, how many generations We have destroyed before them in whose dwellings they do walk about? Verily, therein indeed are signs. Would they not then listen?

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And We made from among them leaders to guide by Our command when they were patient. And they were certain of Our messages.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Does it not point out to them the right way, how many of the generations, in whose abodes they go about, did We destroy before them? Most surely there are signs in this; will they not then hear?

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Is it not a guidance for them (to observe) how many generations We destroyed before them, amid whose dwelling places they do walk? Lo! therein verily are portents! Will they not then heed?

Muhammad Sarwar

Was it not a lesson for them, (the unbelievers), that We destroyed the many generations living before them among whose ruined dwellings they are now walking. In this there is many evidence (of the truth). Will they not then listen?

Qaribullah & Darwish

Is it not a guidance to them, how many generations We destroyed before them in whose dwelling places they walk? Surely, in this there are signs. Will they not then hear!

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Is it not a guidance for them: how many generations We have destroyed before them in whose dwellings they do walk about Verily, therein indeed are signs. Would they not then listen

Wahiduddin Khan

Does it not guide them [to see] how many generations We destroyed before them, among whose ruined dwellings they now walk about? There truly are signs in this -- will they not listen?

Talal Itani

Is it not a lesson for them, how many generations We have destroyed before them, in whose habitations they walk? Surely in that are signs. Do they not hear?

Tafsir jalalayn

Or is it not an indication for them how many generations, communities, on account of their disbelief, We destroyed before them, that is to say, has [not] Our destruction of many [generations] become clear to the disbelievers of Mecca, amid whose dwellings they walk (yamshna is a circumstantial qualifier referring to the person of the pronoun lahum, `for them') during their travels to Syria and other places, so that they might take heed? Surely in that there are signs, indications of Our power. Are they not able to hear?, in a way so as to reflect and be admonished.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Learning the Lessons of the Past

Allah says;

أَوَلَمْ يَهْدِ لَهُمْ كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّنَ الْقُرُونِ

Is it not guidance for them;how many generations We have destroyed before them

Allah says;will these people who deny the Messengers not learn from the nations who came before them, whom Allah destroyed for their rejection of His Messengers and their opposition to what the Messengers brought them of the straight path. No trace is left of them whatsoever.

هَلْ تُحِسُّ مِنْهُمْ مِّنْ أَحَدٍ أَوْ تَسْمَعُ لَهُمْ رِكْزاً

Can you find a single one of them or hear even a whisper of them. (19;98)

Allah says;

يَمْشُونَ فِي مَسَاكِنِهِمْ

in whose dwellings they do walk about,

meaning, these disbelievers walk about in the places where those disbelievers used to live, but they do not see any of those who used to live there, for they have gone --

كَأَن لَّمْ يَغْنَوْاْ فِيهَأ

As if they had never lived there. (11;68)

This is like the Ayat;

فَتِلْكَ بُيُوتُهُمْ خَاوِيَةً بِمَا ظَلَمُواْ

These are their houses in utter ruin, for they did wrong. (27;52)

فَكَأَيِّن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ أَهْلَكْنَـهَا وَهِىَ ظَالِمَةٌ فَهِىَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَى عُرُوشِهَا وَبِيْرٍ مُّعَطَّلَةٍ وَقَصْرٍ مَّشِيدٍ أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُواْ فِى الاٌّرْضِ

And many a township did We destroy while they were given to wrongdoing, so that it lie in ruins, and (many) a deserted well and lofty castle! Have they not traveled through the land! until;

وَلَـكِن تَعْمَى الْقُلُوبُ الَّتِى فِى الصُّدُورِ

but it is the hearts which are in the breasts that grow blind. (22;45-46)

Allah says here;

إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَايَاتٍ

Verily, therein indeed are signs.

meaning, in the fact that these people are gone and have been destroyed, and in what happened to them because they disbelieved the Messengers, and how those who believed in them were saved, there are many signs, proofs and important lessons.

أَفَلَ يَسْمَعُونَ



Would they not then listen!

means, to the stories of those who came before and what happened to them.
The Revival of the Earth with Water is Proof of the Resurrection to come

Allah says;