Al-Qur'an Surah Qaf Verse 36

Mufti Taqi Usmani

And how many a generation We have destroyed before them who were stronger than these in their grip on power, and they searched out the cities. Was there any place (for them) to escape?

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

˹Imagine˺ how many peoples We destroyed before them, who were far mightier than them. Then ˹when the torment came,˺ they ˹desperately˺ sought refuge in the land. ˹But˺ was there any escape?

Ruwwad Translation Center

How many nations We destroyed before them [Makkans] who were stronger than them in might! They traveled through the land. Did they find any escape?

A. J. Arberry

How many a generation We destroyed before them that was stronger in valour than they, then they searched about in the land; was there any asylum?

Abdul Haleem

We have destroyed even mightier generations before these disbelievers, who travelled through [many] lands- was there any escape?

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And how many a generation have We destroyed before them, who were mightier in power than they, and they traversed the cities! No place of refuge could they find.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

But how many generations before them did We destroy (for their sins),- stronger in power than they? Then did they wander through the land; was there any place of escape (for them)?

Abul Ala Maududi

How many a nation did We destroy before them that were stronger in prowess than these. They searched about the lands of the world. But could they find a refuge?

Ahmed Ali

How many generations have We destroyed before them who were mightier in power than they. Then they searched throughout the land to see if there was a way of escape.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And many a generation We did destroy before them, who exceeded them in strength, therefore venturing in the cities! Is there a place to escape?

Ali Quli Qarai

How many generations We have destroyed before them, who were stronger than these, insomuch that they ransacked the towns?! So, is there any escape [from Allah’s punishment]?

Ali Ünal

How many a generation We have destroyed before them who were mightier than these in prowess, and overran other lands. But was there any place of escape (for them when God’s punishment became due: is there ever?)

Amatul Rahman Omar

So many (a guilty) generation, who were mightier than these people in prowess, have We destroyed (for their wrongs) before them. They journeyed from land to land (to escape). (But We seized them with Our punishment.) Was there any asylum (for them) to take refuge?

English Literal

And how many We destroyed before them from (a) generation/century they are stronger than them (in) violent destruction/attack, so they searched/investigated in the countries/lands , is (there) from (an) escape/diversion?

Faridul Haque

And many a generation We did destroy before them, who exceeded them in strength, therefore venturing in the cities! Is there a place to escape?

Hamid S. Aziz

And how many a generation did We destroy before them who were mightier in prowess than they. Then they wander through (or overrun) the land; but was there for them a place of refuge (when the Judgment came)?

Hilali & Khan

And how many a generation We have destroyed before them, who were stronger in power than them, and (when Our Torment came) they ran for a refuge in the land! Could they find any place of refuge (for them to save themselves from destruction)?

Maulana Mohammad Ali

For them therein is all they wish, and with Us is yet more.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And how many a generation did We destroy before them who were mightier in prowess than they, so they went about and about in the lands. Is there a place of refuge?

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And how many a generation We destroyed before them, who were mightier than these in prowess so that they overran the lands! Had they any place of refuge (when the judgment came)?

Muhammad Sarwar

How many an ancient town who were much stronger than them (unbelievers) did We destroy. (In vain), they wandered through the land in search of a place of refuge from Our torment.

Qaribullah & Darwish

How many generations, stronger in might than they have We destroyed before them! They searched the land, could they find any asylum?

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And how many a generation We have destroyed before them who were stronger in power than they. And they went about the land! Could they find any place of refuge

Wahiduddin Khan

How many a generation, far greater in prowess, have We destroyed before them! They searched the entire land: but could they find a refuge?

Talal Itani

How many generations before them, who were more powerful than they, did We destroy? They explored the lands—was there any escape?

Tafsir jalalayn

And how many a generation We destroyed before them, that is, before the disbelievers of Quraysh We destroyed many generations of disbelievers, who were mightier than these in prowess, and [who] then searched throughout the land [wondering]; is there any escape?, for them and others from death, but they found none.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Warning the Disbelievers of the imminent Torment;

Allah says,

وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم

And how many

Allah the Exalted asks, `how many We have destroyed before these denying disbelievers?'

مِّن قَرْنٍ هُمْ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُم بَطْشًا

a generation who were stronger in power than they.

they were more numerous, mightier than they and who constructed on the earth and built on it more than they.

The statement of Allah the Exalted,

فَنَقَّبُوا فِي الْبِلَدِ هَلْ مِن مَّحِيصٍ



And they went about the land! Could they find any place of refuge?

Ibn Abbas commented,

"They left the traces throughout the land,"

Qatadah said,

"They traveled throughout the land seeking provisions through trade and business, more than you have."

Allah's statement,
هَلْ مِن مَّحِيصٍ
(Could they find any place of refuge?)

means, `could they find a shelter from Allah's decision and appointed destiny? Have what they collected benefited them or averted Allah's torment when it came to them on account of their denial of the Messengers? Likewise, you will never be able to avert, avoid, or find refuge or shelter (from His torment).'

Allah the Exalted and Most Honored said