Al-Qur'an Surah Ghafir Verse 21

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Have they not traveled through the earth and seen how was the fate of those who used to be before them? They were stronger than these in power and in traces left on the earth, but Allah seized them because of their sins. There was no one to save them from Allah.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Have they not travelled throughout the land to see what was the end of those ˹destroyed˺ before them? They were far superior in might and ˹richer in˺ monuments throughout the land. But Allah seized them for their sins, and they had no protector from Allah.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Have they not traveled in the land to see what was the end of those who came before them? They were far superior in strength and left a more impressive marks in the land, but Allah seized them for their sins, and they had none to protect them from Allah.

A. J. Arberry

What, have they not journeyed in the land and beheld how was the end of those before them? They were stronger than themselves in might and left firmer traces in the earth; yet God seized them in their sins, and they had none to defend them from God.

Abdul Haleem

Have they not travelled through the land and seen how those who lived before them met their end? They were stronger than them and made a more impressive mark on the land, yet God destroyed them for their sins- they had no one to defend them against Him-

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Have they not travelled about in the land so that they may behold of what wise hath been the end of those who were before them? They were mightier than these in strength and in the traces in the land. Yet Allah laid hold of them for their sins, and from Allah they had none as protector.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Do they not travel through the earth and see what was the End of those before them? They were even superior to them in strength, and in the traces (they have left) in the land; but Allah did call them to account for their sins, and none had they to defend them against Allah.

Abul Ala Maududi

Have they not journeyed in the land that they might observe the end of those who came before them? They were even greater in strength than they and left behind more splendid traces in the land. Then Allah seized them because of their sins and they had none who could protect them from Allah.

Ahmed Ali

Have they not travelled on the earth that they could see what happened to those before them? They were greater in strength than they, and have left behind them traces on the earth. Yet they were seized by God for their sins, and had none to protect them against God.

Ahmed Raza Khan

So did they not travel in the land in order to see what sort of fate befell those before them? Their strength and the signs they left behind in the earth, exceeded them – so Allah seized them on account of their sins, and they had no one to save them from Allah.

Ali Quli Qarai

Have they not travelled through the land so that they may observe how was the fate of those who were before them? They were greater than them in might and with respect to the effects [they left] in the land. But then Allah seized them for their sins, and they had no defender against Allah [’s punishment].

Ali Ünal

Have they never traveled about the earth that they may see what was the outcome for those (who obstinately disbelieved in Our signs) before them? They were greater than them in power and in the marks (they left) on the land. Then God seized them for their sins, and they had none to protect them against God.

Amatul Rahman Omar

Have they never travelled in the land that they could see how (evil) was the end of their predecessors? They were mightier than these in power and in respect of leaving stronger marks (- monuments etc.) in the land. But Allâh took them to task (and destroyed them) for their sins and they had no saviour from (the punishment of) Allâh.

English Literal

Do they not walk/move/ride in the land/Planet Earth , so they see/wonder about how was those who were from before them`s end/turn (result)? They, they were, stronger than them (in) strength/power, and tracks/historical remains in the earth/Planet Earth, so God punished/took them because (of) their crimes, and (there) was not for them from a protector/preserver from God.

Faridul Haque

So did they not travel in the land in order to see what sort of fate befell those before them? Their strength and the signs they left behind in the earth, exceeded them - so Allah seized them on account of their sins, and they had no one to save them from Allah.

Hamid S. Aziz

Have they not travelled in the earth and seen the nature of the consequences for those who disbelieved before them? Mightier than these were they in strength, and in the traces they made in the earth. Yet Allah destroyed them for their sins; and they had no defender against Allah.

Hilali & Khan

Have they not travelled in the land and seen what was the end of those who were before them? They were superior to them in strength, and in the traces (which they left) in the land. But Allah seized them with punishment for their sins. And none had they to protect them from Allah.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And Allah judges with truth. And those whom they call upon besides Him judge naught! Surely Allah is the Hearing, the Seeing.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Have they not travelled in the earth and seen how was the end of those who were before them? Mightier than these were they in strength-- and in fortifications in the land, but Allah destroyed them for their sins; and there was not for them any defender against Allah.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Have they not travelled in the land to see the nature of the consequence for those who disbelieved before them? They were mightier than these in power and (in the) traces (which they left behind them) in the earth. Yet Allah seized them for their sins, and they had no protector from Allah.

Muhammad Sarwar

Have they not travelled through the land to see the terrible end of those who lived before them. They had been mightier than them in power and in leaving their traces on earth. God punished them for their sins. They had no one to save them from God's torment.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Have they never journeyed through the land and seen what was the end of those who have gone before them? They were stronger than themselves in might and left firmer traces in the earth, but Allah seized them for their sinning, and they had none to protect them from Allah.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Have they not traveled in the land and seen what was the end of those who were before them They were superior to them in strength, and in the traces in the land. But Allah seized them with punishment for their sins. And none had they to protect them from Allah.

Wahiduddin Khan

Have they not travelled through the land and seen what was the end of those who have gone before them? They were stronger than them and made a more impressive mark upon the land, yet God destroyed them for their sins, they had no one to defend them against Him,

Talal Itani

Have they not travelled through the earth, and seen the consequences for those before them? They were stronger than them, and they left more impact on earth. But God seized them for their sins, and they had no defender against God.

Tafsir jalalayn

Have they not travelled in the land and beheld the nature of the consequence for those who were before them? They were more powerful than them (a variant reading has minkum, `than yourselves') in strength and in [their] vestiges on earth, in the way of large structures and palaces. Yet God seized them, He destroyed them, for their sins and they had none to shield them from God, from His chastisement.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Severe Punishment for the Disbelievers

Allah says,

أَوَ لَمْ يَسِيرُوا

Have they not traveled,

`these people who disbelieve in your Message, O Muhammad,'

فِي الاَْرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا مِن قَبْلِهِمْ

in the land and seen what was the end of those who were before them,

means, the nations of the past who disbelieved in their Prophets (peace be upon them), for which the punishment came upon them even though they were stronger than Quraysh.

كَانُوا هُمْ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً

They were superior to them in strength,

وَاثَارًا فِي الاْاَرْضِ

and in the traces in the land.

means, they left behind traces in the earth, such as structures, buildings and dwellings which these people (i.e., the Quraysh) cannot match. This is like the Ayat;

وَلَقَدْ مَكَّنَـهُمْ فِيمَأ إِن مَّكَّنَّـكُمْ فِيهِ

And indeed We had firmly established them with that wherewith We have not established you! (46;26)

وَأَثَارُواْ الاٌّرْضَ وَعَمَرُوهَأ أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا عَمَرُوهَا

and they tilled the earth and populated it in greater numbers than these have done. (30;9)

فَأَخَذَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ

But Allah seized them with punishment for their sins.

Yet despite this great strength, Allah punished them for their sin, which was their disbelief in their Messengers.

وَمَا كَانَ لَهُم مِّنَ اللَّهِ مِن وَاقٍ



And none had they to protect them from Allah.

means, they had no one who could protect them or ward off the punishment from them.

Then Allah mentions the reason why He punished them, and the sins which they committed.

Allah says