Tafseer of Hud · Hud · 11:68
As if they had never prospered therein. Unquestionably, Thamud denied their Lord; then, away with Thamud.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
كَأَنْ لَمْ يَغْنَوْا فِيهَا — that is to say: as if they had never lived therein and had never dwelt in it. As in:
18295. Al-Muthanná related to me, saying: ʿAbd Allāh ibn Ṣāliḥ related to us, saying: Muʿāwiya related to me, on the authority of ʿAlī, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, concerning the words: كَأَنْ لَمْ يَغْنَوْا فِيهَا — as if they had never lived therein.
18296. Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda — the same.
We have already explained this earlier, together with the proofs thereof, which makes its repetition unnecessary.
أَلا إِنَّ ثَمُودَ كَفَرُوا رَبَّهُمْ — that is to say: Thamūd rejected the signs of their Lord and denied them. أَلا بُعْدًا لِثَمُودَ — that is to say: may Allah have removed Thamūd far away, now that the punishment has come down upon them.
