Ornaments of Gold, Luxury, The Embellishment — Verse 8

43:8 · az-Zukhruf

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فَأَهۡلَكۡنَاۤ أَشَدَّ مِنۡهُم بَطۡشࣰا وَمَضَىٰ مَثَلُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِینَ ۝٨
fa-ahlaknā ashadda min'hum baṭshan wamaḍā mathalu l-awalīn
Ornaments of Gold, Luxury, The Embellishment / az-Zukhruf (43:8)
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Abdel Haleem

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so We have destroyed mightier people than [the disbelievers of Mecca] and their example has gone down in history
fa-ahlaknā ashadda min'hum baṭshan wamaḍā mathalu l-awalīn

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Tafsir Commentary

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged)
Which was revealed in Makkah بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful حـم - تَنزِيلُ الْكِتَـبِ مِنَ اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ (Ha-Mim. By the manifest Book.) means, plain and clear in both wording and meaning, because it was revealed in the language of the Arabs, which is the most eloquent language for communication among people. Allah says: إِنَّا جَعَلْنَـهُ (Verily, We have made it) meaning, revealed it, قُرْءَاناً عَرَبِيّاً (a Qur'an in Arabic) meaning, in the language of the Arabs, eloquent and clear; لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ (that you may be able to understand.) means, that you may understand it and ponder its meanings. This is like the Ayah: بِلِسَانٍ عَرَبِىٍّ مُّبِينٍ (In the plain Arabic language.) (26:195) وَإِنَّهُ فِى أُمِّ الْكِتَـبِ لَدَيْنَا لَعَلِىٌّ حَكِيمٌ (And verily, it is in the Mother of the Book with Us, indeed exalted, full of wisdom.) This explains the high status of the Qur'an among the hosts on high (the angels), so that the people of earth will respect it, venerate it and obey it. وَأَنَّهُ (And verily, it) means, the Qur'an, فِى أُمِّ الْكِتَـبِ (is in the Mother of the Book) meaning, Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz (the Preserved Tablet). This was the view of Ibn `Abbas and Mujahid. لَدَيْنَآ (with Us,) means, in Our presence. This was the view of Qatadah and others. لَّعَلِّى (indeed exalted) means, occupying a position of honor and virtue. This was the view of Qatadah. حَكِيمٌ (full of wisdom.) means, clear, with no confusion or deviation. All of this indicates its noble status and virtue, as Allah says elsewhere: إِنَّهُ لَقُرْءَانٌ كَرِيمٌ - فِى كِتَـبٍ مَّكْنُونٍ - لاَّ يَمَسُّهُ إِلاَّ الْمُطَهَّرُونَ - تَنزِيلٌ مِّن رَّبِّ الْعَـلَمِينَ (That (this) is indeed an honorable recitation. In a Book well-guarded. Which none can touch but the pure. A revelation from the Lord of the all that exists.) (56:77-80) كَلاَّ إِنَّهَا تَذْكِرَةٌ فَمَن شَآءَ ذَكَرَهُ فَى صُحُفٍ مُّكَرَّمَةٍ مَّرْفُوعَةٍ مُّطَهَّرَةٍ بِأَيْدِى سَفَرَةٍ كِرَامٍ بَرَرَةٍ (Nay, indeed it is an admonition. So whoever wills, let him pay attention to it. (It is) in Records held (greatly) in honor, exalted, purified, in the hands of scribes (angels), honorable and obedient.) (80:11-16) أَفَنَضْرِبُ عَنكُمُ الذِّكْرَ صَفْحاً أَن كُنتُمْ قَوْماً مُّسْرِفِينَ (Shall We then take away the Reminder (this Qur'an) from you, because you are a people excessive.) means, `do you think that We will forgive you and not punish you, when you do not do as you have been commanded' This was the view of Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, Abu Salih, Mujahid and As-Suddi, and was the view favored by Ibn Jarir. أَفَنَضْرِبُ عَنكُمُ الذِّكْرَ صَفْحاً (Shall We then take away the Reminder (this Qur'an) from you,) Qatadah said, "By Allah, if this Qur'an had been taken away when the first generations of this Ummah rejected it, they would have been doomed, but Allah by His mercy persisted in sending it and calling them to it for twenty years, or for as long as He willed." What Qatadah said is very good, and his point is that Allah, by His grace and mercy towards His creation, did not stop calling them to the truth and to the wise Reminder, i.e., the Qur'an, even though they were heedless and turned away from it. Indeed, He sent it so that those who were decreed to be guided might be guided by it, and so that proof might be established against those who were decreed to be. (In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.) Consolation to the Prophet for the Disbelief of Quraysh Then Allah consoles His Prophet for the disbelief of his people, and commands him to bear it with patience. وَكَمْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن نَّبِيٍّ فِى الاٌّوَّلِينَ (And how many a Prophet have We sent amongst the men of old.) meaning, among the sects (communities) of old. وَمَا يَأْتِيهِم مِّنْ نَّبِىٍّ إِلاَّ كَانُواْ بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ (And never came there a Prophet to them but they used to mock at him.) means, they disbelieved him and mock at him. فَأَهْلَكْنَآ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُم بَطْشاً (Then We destroyed men stronger than these) means, `We destroyed those who disbelieved in the Messengers, and they were stronger in power than these who disbelieve in you, O Muhammad.' This is like the Ayah: أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُواْ فِى الاٌّرْضِ فَيَنظُرُواْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ كَانُواْ أَكْـثَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَأَشَدَّ قُوَّةً (Have they not traveled through the earth and seen what was the end of those before them They were more in number than them and mightier in strength) (40:82). And there are many similar Ayat. وَمَضَى مَثَلُ الاٌّوَّلِينَ (and the example of the ancients has passed away. ) Mujahid said, "The way of their life." Qatadah said, "Their punishment." Others said, "Their lesson," i.e., `We made them a lesson for those disbelievers who came after them, that they would suffer the same end as them,' as in the Ayah at the end of this Surah: فَجَعَلْنَـهُمْ سَلَفاً وَمَثَلاً لِّلاٌّخِرِينَ (And We made them a precedent, and an example to later generations.) (43:56); سُنَّةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِى قَدْ خَلَتْ فِى عِبَادِهِ (this has been the way of Allah in dealing with His servants) (40:85). وَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّةِ اللَّهِ تَبْدِيلاً (and you will not find any change in the way of Allah.) (33:62)
Tafsir al-Jalalayn
So We destroyed those who were mightier than them — than your people — in prowess strength and already there passed there has been mentioned in previous verses the example of the ancients the description of how they were destroyed and thus the sequel for your people will be the same.
Kashani Tafsir
So We destroyed those stronger than they in seizing, and the example of the first ones passed away. “They have taken Our prophets as liars, ridiculed them, and did not accept their advice. Hence We showed them Our harshness and severity. We overthrew them and pulled them up by the roots. If anyone contends with Us, Our severity will overcome him. We exact justice from the arrogant, We take vengeance on the apostates, and We show the answer to the enemies.”
Kashani Tafsir
So We destroyed those stronger than they in seizing, and the example of the first ones passed away. “They have taken Our prophets as liars, ridiculed them, and did not accept their advice. Hence We showed them Our harshness and severity. We overthrew them and pulled them up by the roots. If anyone contends with Us, Our severity will overcome him. We exact justice from the arrogant, We take vengeance on the apostates, and We show the answer to the enemies.”
Al-Qushairi Tafsir
So We destroyed those stronger than they in seizing, and the example of the first ones passed away. “They have taken Our prophets as liars, ridiculed them, and did not accept their advice. Hence We showed them Our harshness and severity. We overthrew them and pulled them up by the roots. If anyone contends with Us, Our severity will overcome him. We exact justice from the arrogant, We take vengeance on the apostates, and We show the answer to the enemies.”
Al-Qushairi Tafsir
So We destroyed those stronger than they in seizing, and the example of the first ones passed away. “They have taken Our prophets as liars, ridiculed them, and did not accept their advice. Hence We showed them Our harshness and severity. We overthrew them and pulled them up by the roots. If anyone contends with Us, Our severity will overcome him. We exact justice from the arrogant, We take vengeance on the apostates, and We show the answer to the enemies.”
Kashf Al-Asrar Tafsir
So We destroyed those stronger than they in seizing, and the example of the first ones passed away.�They have taken Our prophets as liars, ridiculed them, and did not accept their advice. Hence We showed them Our harshness and severity. We overthrew them and pulled them up by the roots. If anyone contends with Us, Our severity will overcome him. We exact justice from the arrogant, We take vengeance on the apostates, and We show the answer to the enemies.�
Tafsir Muyassar
كثيرًا من الأنبياء أرسلنا في القرون الأولى التي مضت قبل قومك أيها النبي. وما يأتيهم من نبي إلا كانوا به يستهزئون كاستهزاء قومك بك، فأهلكنا مَن كذَّبوا رسلنا، وكانوا أشد قوة وبأسًا من قومك يا محمد، ومضت عقوبة الأولين بأن أهلِكوا؛ بسبب كفرهم وطغيانهم واستهزائهم بأنبيائهم. وفي هذا تسلية للنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir
أي فأهلكنا المكذبين بالرسل وقد كانوا أشد بطشا من هؤلاء المكذبين لك يا محمد كقوله عز وجل "أفلم يسيروا في الأرض فينظروا كيف كان عاقبة الذين من قبلهم كانوا أكثر منهم وأشد قوة" والآيات في ذلك كثيرة جدا.وقوله جل جلاله "ومضى مثل الأولين" قال مجاهد: سنتهم وقال قتادة: عقوبتهم وقال غيرهما: عبرتهم أي جعلناهم عبرة لمن بعدهم من المكذبين أن يصيبهم ما أصابهم كقوله تعالى في آخر هذه السورة "فجعلناهم سلفا ومثلا للآخرين" وكقوله جلت عظمته "سنة الله التي قد خلت في عباده" وقال عز وجل "ولن تجد لسنة الله تبديلا".
Tafsir Al Wasit
فماذا كانت نتيجتهم؟ كانت استهزائهم برسلهم كما قال - تعالى - : ( فَأَهْلَكْنَآ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُم بَطْشاً ومضى مَثَلُ الأولين ) .والضمير فى قوله ( مِنْهُم ) يعود إلى القوم المسرفين ، المخاطبين بقوله - تعالى - : ( أَفَنَضْرِبُ عَنكُمُ الذكر صَفْحاً . . ) وفى الآية التفات من الخطاب الى الغيبة ، لأن كان الظاهر أن يقال : فأهلكنا أشد منكم بطشا - أيها المشركون - .وقوله : ( أَشَدَّ مِنْهُم ) مفعول به لأهلكنا . وأصله نعت لمحذوف . أى : فأهلكنا قوما أشد منهم بطشا . والبطش : السطوة والقوة . يقال : فلان بطش فلان إذا أخذه بقوة وعنف ، ومنه قوله - تعالى - : ( وَإِذَا بَطَشْتُمْ بَطَشْتُمْ جَبَّارِينَ ) والمراد " بمثل الأولين " صفتهم المتمثلة فى استئصال شأفتهم ، وقطع دابرهم .أى : هكذا كان موقف السابقين من رسلهم ، لقد استهزءوا برسلهم فأهلكناهم ، وكانوا أشد قوة وبطشا من قومك المسرفين أيها الرسول الكريم - وقد اقتضت حكمتنا أن نسوق لقومك قصص هؤلاء السابقين وصفاتهم وما حل بهم من نكبات ، لكى يعتبروا بهم ، ولا ينهجوا نهجهم ، حتى لا يصيب قومك ما أصاب أولئك السابقين المكذبين .ومن الآيات الكثيرة التى وردت فى هذا المعنى قوله - تعالى - : ( أَوَلَمْ يَسِيروُاْ فِي الأرض فَيَنظُرُواْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الذين كَانُواْ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ كَانُواْ هُمْ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً وَآثَاراً فِي الأرض فَأَخَذَهُمُ الله بِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَمَا كَانَ لَهُم مِّنَ الله مِن وَاقٍ ) .
Tafsir al-Tabari
القول في تأويل قوله تعالى : فَأَهْلَكْنَا أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ بَطْشًا وَمَضَى مَثَلُ الأَوَّلِينَ (8)يقول تعالى ذكره: فأهلكنا أشدّ من هؤلاء المستهزئين بأنبيائهم بطشا إذا بطشوا فلم يعجزونا بقواهم وشدة بطشهم, ولم يقدروا على الامتناع من بأسنا إذ أتاهم, فالذين هم أضعف منهم قوة أحرى أن لا يقدروا على الامتناع من نقمنا إذا حلَّت بهم. يقول جلّ ثناؤه: ومضى لهؤلاء المشركين المستهزئين بك ولمن قبلهم من ضربائهم مثلنا لهم في أمثالهم من مكذّبي رسلنا الذين أهلكناهم, يقول: فليتوقع هؤلاء الذين يستهزئون بك يا محمد من عقوبتنا مثل الذي أحللناه بأولئك الذين أقاموا على تكذيبك.وبنحو الذي قلنا في ذلك قال أهل التأويل.* ذكر من قال ذلك:حدثنا بشر, قال: ثنا يزيد, قال: ثنا سعيد, عن قتادة ( وَمَضَى مَثَلُ الأوَّلِينَ ) قال: عقوبة الأولين.حدثني محمد بن عمرو, قال: ثنا أبو عاصم, قال: ثنا عيسى; وحدثني الحارث, قال: ثنا الحسن, قال: ثنا ورقاء جميعا, عن ابن أبي نجيح, عن مجاهد, في قوله: ( مَثَلُ الأوَّلِينَ ) قال: سُنتهم.
Tafseer Al-Baghawi
( فأهلكنا أشد منهم بطشا ) أي أقوى من قومك ، يعني الأولين الذين أهلكوا بتكذيب الرسل ، ( ومضى مثل الأولين ) أي صفتهم وسنتهم وعقوبتهم ، فعاقبة هؤلاء كذلك في الإهلاك .
Tafseer Tanwir al-Miqbas
فَأَهْلَكْنَا أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ بَطْشًا وَمَضَى مَثَلُ الْأَوَّلِينَ (8)وضمير { أشد منهم } عائد إلى قوم مسرفين الذين تقدم خطابهم فعدل عن استرسال خطابهم إلى توجيهه إلى الرّسول صلى الله عليه وسلم لأن الغرض الأهم من هذا الكلام هو تسلية الرّسول ووعده بالنصر . ويستتبع ذلك التعريضَ بالذين كذبوه فإنهم يبلغهم هذا الكلام كما تقدم .ويظهر أن تغيير أسلوب الإضمار تبعاً لتغيير المواجهة بالكلام لا ينافي اعتبار الالتفات في الضمير لأن مناط الالتفات هو اتحاد مرجع الضميرين مع تأتِّي الاقتصار على طريقة الإضمار الأولى ، وهل تغيير توجيه الكلام إلا تقوية لمقتضى نقل الإضمار ، ولا تفوت النكتة التي تحصل من الالتفات وهي تجديد نشاط السامع بل تزداد قوة بازدياد مُقتضِياتها .وكلام «الكشاف» ظاهر في أن نقل الضمير هنا التفات وعلى ذلك قرره شارحوه ، ولكن العلامة التفتزاني قال : ومِثل هذا ليس من الالتفات في شيء ا ه .ولعله يرى أن اختلاف المواجهة بالكلام الواقع فيه الضّميران طريقة أخرى غير طريقة الالتفات ، وكلام «الكشاف» فيه احتمال ، وخصوصيات البلاغة واسعة الأطراف . والذين هم أشد بطشاً مِن كفار مكّة : هم الذين عُبر عنهم ب { الأوَّلين } ووصفوا بأنهم يستهزئون بمن يأتيهم من نَبيء . وهذا ترتيب بديع في الإيجاز لأن قوله : { فأهلكنا أشد منهم بطشاً } يقتضي كلاماً مطوياً تقديره : فلا نعجز عن إهلاك هؤلاء المسرفين وهم أقل بطشاً .وهذا في معنى قوله تعالى : { وكأيّن من قريةٍ هي أشد قوةً من قريتك التي أخرجتك أهلكناهم فلا ناصر لهم } [ محمد : 13 ] .والبطش : الإضرار القويّ .وانتصب { بطشاً } على التمييز لنسبة الأشدّيّة .و { مثل الأولين } حالهم العجيبة . ومعنى { مضى } : انقرض ، أي ذهبوا عن بكرة أبيهم ، فمُضِيُّ المثَل كناية عن استئصالهم لأن مُضي الأحوال يكون بمضي أصحابها ، فهو في معنى قوله تعالى : { فقُطع دابر القوم الذين ظلموا } [ الأنعام : 45 ] . وذكر { الأولين } إظهار في مقام الإضمار لتقدم قوله : { في الأولين } . ووجه إظهاره أن يكون الإخبار عنهم صريحاً وجارياً مجرَى المثَل .
Tafseer Al Saddi
{ فَأَهْلَكْنَا أَشَدّ } من هؤلاء { بَطْشًا } أي: قوة وأفعالا وآثارا في الأرض، { وَمَضَى مَثَلُ الْأَوَّلِينَ } أي: مضت أمثالهم وأخبارهم، وبينا لكم منها ما فيه عبرة ومزدجر عن التكذيب والإنكار.
Tafseer Al Qurtubi
فأهلكنا أشد منهم بطشا أي قوما أشد منهم قوة . والكناية في ( منهم ) ترجع إلى المشركين المخاطبين بقوله : أفنضرب عنكم الذكر صفحا فكنى عنهم بعد أن خاطبهم . ( وأشد ) نصب على الحال . وقيل : هو مفعول ، أي : فقد أهلكنا أقوى من هؤلاء المشركين في أبدانهم وأتباعهم . ومضى مثل الأولين أي عقوبتهم ، عن قتادة وقيل : صفحة الأولين ، فخبرهم بأنهم أهلكوا على كفرهم ، حكاه النقاش والمهدوي .والمثل : الوصف والخبر .
Tazkirul Quran
Today there are countless people in the world who speak of previous prophets with reverence. In view of this, it appears very strange that these very prophets (including the Prophet Muhammad) were ridiculed and mocked by their contemporaries. The reason for this is not that the people of those days were savage and the people of today are civilized. It is simply due to a difference in the times. Today, after the lapse of centuries, every prophet is surrounded by an aura of historical glory. So, every superficial admirer of appearances recognises the prophet. But, to his contemporaries, the prophet appeared to be an ordinary person. At that time, in order to discover and recognise the reality of the prophetic position of a prophet, a deep insight was required to discover the reality and, undoubtedly, such insight has always been very rare in this world. However badly a preacher’s addressees may treat him, he unilaterally exercises patience and carries on the work of his mission, until the day comes when God’s will is made manifest on what future course he should take.
Ma'arif-ul-Quran
A Preacher must not give up his preaching due to disappointment أَفَنَضْرِ‌بُ عَنكُمُ الذِّكْرَ‌ صَفْحًا أَن كُنتُمْ قَوْمًا مُّسْرِ‌فِينَ (Shall we remove the advice away from you because you are a transgressing people? - 43:5) The meaning is that We will not give up advising you through the Qur'an, no matter how rebellious and disobedient you may become. This tells us that the person who is engaged in preaching and inviting others towards Islam should carry the message to everybody; he must not give up preaching to some people or any group simply because they are non-believers, highly irreligious, sinners and transgressors.
Tanwir al-Miqbas min Tafsir Ibn 'Abbas
(Then we destroyed men mightier than these) mightier than the people of Mecca (in prowess) in strength and power; (and the example of the men of old hath gone (before them)) i.e. they were destroyed when they disbelieved in their messengers.
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