The Poets — Verse 208

26:208 · ash-Shu`ara`

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وَمَاۤ أَهۡلَكۡنَا مِن قَرۡیَةٍ إِلَّا لَهَا مُنذِرُونَ ۝٢٠٨
wamā ahlaknā min qaryatin illā lahā mundhirūn
The Poets / ash-Shu`ara` (26:208)
Connections 17 single-source 2 commentators

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Single-source mentions (17) cited by only one commentator

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Abdel Haleem

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Never have We destroyed a town without sending down messengers to warn it
wamā ahlaknā min qaryatin illā lahā mundhirūn

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Tafsir Commentary

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged)
The Deniers will never believe until They see the Torment Allah says: `thus We caused denial, disbelief, rejection and stubbornness to enter the hearts of the sinners.' لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ (They will not believe in it), i.e., the truth, حَتَّى يَرَوُاْ الْعَذَابَ الاٌّلِيمَ (until they see the painful torment.) means, when their excuses will be of no avail, and the curse will be upon them, and theirs will be an evil abode. فَيَأْتِيَهُم بَغْتَةً (It shall come to them of a sudden,) means, the punishment of Allah will come upon them suddenly, وَهُمْ لاَ يَشْعُرُونَفَيَقُولُواْ هَلْ نَحْنُ مُنظَرُونَ (while they perceive it not. Then they will say: "Can we be respited") means, when they see the punishment, then they will wish they had a little more time so that they can obey Allah -- or so they claim. This is like the Ayah: وَأَنذِرِ النَّاسَ يَوْمَ يَأْتِيهِمُ الْعَذَابُ (And warn mankind of the Day when the torment will come unto them) until: مَا لَكُمْ مِّن زَوَالٍ (that you would not leave) (14: 44). When every sinner and evildoer sees his punishment, he will feel intense regret. Such was the case of Fir`awn, when Musa prayed against him: رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ ءاتَيْتَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلاّهُ زِينَةً وَأَمْوَالاً فِى الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا (Our Lord! "You have indeed bestowed on Fir`awn and his chiefs splendor and wealth in the life of this world) until: قَالَ قَدْ أُجِيبَتْ دَّعْوَتُكُمَا ((Allah) said: "Verily, the invocation of you both is accepted.") (10:88-89). This supplication had an effect on Fir`awn: he did not believe until he saw the painful torment: حَتَّى إِذَآ أَدْرَكَهُ الْغَرَقُ قَالَ ءَامَنتُ أَنَّهُ لا إِلِـهَ إِلاَّ الَّذِى ءَامَنَتْ بِهِ بَنواْ إِسْرَءِيلَ (till when drowning overtook him, he said: "I believe that none has the right to be worshipped but He in Whom the Children of Israel believe.") until: وَكُنتَ مِنَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ (and you were one of the mischief-makers) (10:90-91). And Allah says: فَلَمَّا رَأَوْاْ بَأْسَنَا قَالُواْ ءَامَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ (so when they saw Our punishment, they said: "We believe in Allah Alone...") (40:84-85). أَفَبِعَذَابِنَا يَسْتَعْجِلُونَ (Would they then wish for Our torment to be hastened on) This is a denunciation and a threat, because they used to say to the Messenger, by way of denial, thinking it unlikely ever to happen: ائْتِنَا بِعَذَابِ اللَّهِ (Bring Allah's torment upon us) (29:29). This is as Allah said: وَيَسْتَعْجِلُونَكَ بِالْعَذَابِ (And they ask you to hasten on the torment...) (29:53-55). Then Allah says: أَفَرَأَيْتَ إِن مَّتَّعْنَـهُمْ سِنِينَ - ثُمَّ جَآءَهُم مَّا كَانُواْ يُوعَدُونَ - مَآ أَغْنَى عَنْهُمْ مَّا كَانُواْ يُمَتَّعُونَ (Think, if We do let them enjoy for years, and afterwards comes to them that which they had been promised, all that with which they used to enjoy shall not avail them.) meaning, `even if We delay the matter and give them respite for a short while or for a long time, then the punishment of Allah comes upon them, what good will their life of luxury do them then' كَأَنَّهُمْ يَوْمَ يَرَوْنَهَا لَمْ يَلْبَثُواْ إِلاَّ عَشِيَّةً أَوْ ضُحَـهَا (The Day they see it, (it will be) as if they had not tarried (in this world) except an afternoon or a morning) (79:46). And Allah says: يَوَدُّ أَحَدُهُمْ لَوْ يُعَمَّرُ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ وَمَا هُوَ بِمُزَحْزِحِهِ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ أَن يُعَمَّرَ (Everyone of them wishes that he could be given a life of a thousand years. But the grant of such life will not save him even a little from punishment) (2:96). وَمَا يُغْنِى عَنْهُ مَالُهُ إِذَا تَرَدَّى (And what will his wealth avail him when he goes down) (92:11) Allah says here: مَآ أَغْنَى عَنْهُمْ مَّا كَانُواْ يُمَتَّعُونَ (All that with which they used to enjoy shall not avail them.) According to an authentic Hadith: «يُؤْتَى بِالْكَافِرِ فَيُغْمَسُ فِي النَّارِ غَمْسَةً ثُمَّ يُقَالُ لَهُ: هَلْ رَأَيْتَ خَيْرًا قَطُّ؟ هَلْ رَأَيْتَ نَعِيمًا قَطُّ؟ فَيَقُولُ: لَا وَاللهِ يَا رَبِّ، وَيُؤتَى بِأَشَدِّ النَّاسِ بُؤْسًا كَانَ فِي الدُّنْيَا، فَيُصْبَغُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ صَبْغَةً، ثُمَّ يُقَالُ لَهُ::َهلْ رَأَيْتَ بُؤْسًا قَطُّ؟ فَيَقُولُ: لَا وَاللهِ يَا رَب» (The disbelievers will be brought and once dipped into the Fire, then it will be said to him: "Did you ever see anything good Did you ever see anything good" He will say, "No, O Lord!" Then the most miserable person who ever lived on earth will be brought, and he will be put in Paradise for a brief spell, then it will be said to him, "Did you ever see anything bad" He will say, "No, O Lord.") meaning: as if nothing ever happened. Then Allah tells us of His justice towards His creation, in that He does not destroy any nation until after He has left them with no excuse, by warning them, sending Messengers to them and establishing proof against them. He says: وَمَآ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَرْيَةٍ إِلاَّ لَهَا مُنذِرُونَ ذِكْرَى وَمَا كُنَّا ظَـلِمِينَ (And never did We destroy a township but it had its warners by way of reminder, and We have never been unjust.) This is like the Ayat: وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّى نَبْعَثَ رَسُولاً (And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger) (17:15). وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ مُهْلِكَ الْقُرَى حَتَّى يَبْعَثَ فِى أُمِّهَا رَسُولاً يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـتِنَا (And never will your Lord destroy the towns until He sends to their mother town a Messenger reciting to them Our Ayat.) until; وَأَهْلُهَا ظَـلِمُونَ (the people thereof are wrongdoers) (28:59).
Tafsir al-Jalalayn
And We have not destroyed any town but it had warners messengers to warn its inhabitants;
Tafsir Muyassar
وما أهلكنا مِن قرية من القرى في الأمم جميعًا، إلا بعد أن نرسل إليهم رسلا ينذرونهم، تذكرة لهم وتنبيهًا على ما فيه نجاتهم، وما كنا ظالمين فنعذب أمة قبل أن نرسل إليها رسولا.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir
وقال تعالى: "وما يغني عنه ماله إذا تردى" ولهذا قال تعالى "ما أغنى عنهم ما كانوا يمتعون" وفي الحديث الصحيح "يؤتى بالكافر فيغمس في النار غمسة ثم يقال له هل رأيت خيرا قط ؟ هل رأت نعيما قط ؟ فيقول لا والله يارب ويؤتى بأشد الناس بؤسا كان في الدنيا فيصبغ في الجنة صبغة ثم يقال له هل رأيت بؤسا قط ؟ فيقول لا والله يارب" أي ما كان شيئا كان ولهذا كان عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه يتمثل بهذا البيت: كأنك لم تؤثر من الدهر ليلة إذا أنت أدركت الذي أنت تطلب ثم قال تعالى مخبرا عن عدله في خلقه أنه ما أهلك أمة من الأمم إلا بعد الإعذار إليهم والإنذار لهم وبعثهِ الرسل إليهم وقيام الحجة عليهم ولهذا قال تعالى "وما أهلكنا من قرية إلا لها منذرون ذكرى وما كنا ظالمين" كما قال تعالى: "وما كنا معذبين حتى نبعث رسولا" وقال تعالى "وما كان ربك مهلك القرى حتى يبعث في أمها رسولا يتلو عليهم آياتنا" -إلى قوله - "وأهلها ظالمون".
Tafsir Al Wasit
ثم بين - سبحانه - سنته التى لا تتخلف فقال : ( وَمَآ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَرْيَةٍ إِلاَّ لَهَا مُنذِرُونَ ذكرى وَمَا كُنَّا ظَالِمِينَ ) .
Tafsir al-Tabari
يقول تعالى ذكره: (وَمَا أَهْلَكْنَا مِنْ قَرْيَةٍ) من هذه القرى التي وصفت في هذه السور (إِلا لَهَا مُنْذِرُونَ) يقول: إلا بعد إرسالنا إليهم رسلا ينذرونهم بأسنا على كفرهم وسخطنا عليهم.(ذِكْرَى) يقول: إلا لها منذرون ينذرونهم, تذكرة لهم وتنبيها لهم على ما فيه النجاة لهم من عذابنا. ففي الذكرى وجهان من الإعراب: أحدهما النصب على المصدر من الإنذار على ما بيَّنْتُ, والآخر: الرفع على الابتداء (1) كأنه قيل: ذكرى.وبنحو الذي قلنا في ذلك قال أهل التأويل.------------------------الهوامش :(1) يجوز أن يكون قوله تعالى (ذكرى) مرفوعًا على الابتداء والخبر محذوف، أي ذكرى لهم. ويجوز أن يكون مرفوعًا على أنه خبر عن مبتدأ، تقديره: "هم" أي المنذرون، ذكرى لهم..
Tafseer Al-Baghawi
( وما أهلكنا من قرية إلا لها منذرون ) رسل ينذرونهم .
Tafseer Tanwir al-Miqbas
وَمَا أَهْلَكْنَا مِنْ قَرْيَةٍ إِلَّا لَهَا مُنْذِرُونَ (208)تذكير لقريش بأن القرى التي أهلكها الله والتي تقدم ذكرها في هذه السورة قد كان لها رسل ينذرونها عذاب الله ليقيسوا حالتهم على أحوال الأمم التي قبلهم .والاستثناء من أحوال محذوفة . والتقدير : وما أهلكنا من قرية في حال من الأحوال إلا في حال لها منذرون . وعُرّيت جملة الحال عن الواو استغناء عن الواو بحرف الاستثناء ، ولو ذكرت الواو لجاز كقوله في سورة الحجر ( 4 ) { إلا ولها كتاب معلوم } وعبّر عن الرسل بصفة الإنذار لأنه المناسب للتهديد بالإهلاك .
Tafseer Al Saddi
يخبر تعالى عن كمال عدله, في إهلاك المكذبين, وأنه ما أوقع بقرية, هلاكا وعذابا, إلا بعد أن يعذر بهم, ويبعث فيهم النذر بالآيات البينات, ويدعونهم إلى الهدى, وينهونهم عن الردى, ويذكرونهم بآيات الله, وينبهونهم على أيامه في نعمه ونقمه.
Tafseer Al Qurtubi
وما أهلكنا من قرية ( من ) صلة ، المعنى : وما أهلكنا قرية . إلا لها منذرون أي رسل .
Tazkirul Quran
When, on behalf of God, the call for Truth appears at the level of a prophet, it appears in its final and perfect shape. That is why it becomes necessary for God’s punishment to visit any community which denies the prophet. However, until this punishment is actually administered, man considers himself safe from it. In order to prove the divine call baseless, he adopts various tactics. Sometimes he derides the prophet’s personality and sometimes he calls the Divine revelation brought by him spurious. Sometimes he says that if God is against them, why does He not punish them? The only responsibility of the prophet, or the preacher acting on behalf of the prophet, is that he should make the people aware of the Truth. All matters over and above that are the responsibility of God and He shows them this when He wills.
Ma'arif-ul-Quran
أَفَرَ‌أَيْتَ إِن مَّتَّعْنَاهُمْ سِنِينَ ﴿205﴾ So tell me, If We give them enjoyment for years, - 26:205. There is a hint in this verse that those who are bestowed with long life in this world by Allah Ta’ ala, it is His grace on them. But those who show ingratitude for this grace and do not submit to Islam, to them this respite and grace will not be of any avail. Imam Zuhri (رح) has related that Sayyidna ` Umar ibn ` Abdul Aziz (رح) used to recite this verse every morning by holding his beard and addressing his Self: نھارک یا مغرور سھو و غفلۃ ولیلک نوم والرّدیٰ لک لازم فلا انت فی الایقاظ یقظان حازم ولا انت فی النّوّام ناجِ و سالم وتعٰی الٰی ما سوف تکرہ غبّہ کذٰلک فی الدّنیا تعیش البھایٔم ` O the duped one! Your whole day is spent in negligence and the night in sleep, while death is inevitable for you. Neither you are awake among the alert and woken nor are you the one who will get salvation from among the sleepers. You keep endeavoring for things which will soon bring you unpleasant results. Cattle and animals live like this in the world'.
Tanwir al-Miqbas min Tafsir Ibn 'Abbas
(And We destroyed no township) no inhabitants of any township (but it had its warners) warning messengers,
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