Tafseer of The Stories · Al-Qasas · 28:45
But We produced [many] generations [after Moses], and prolonged was their duration. And you were not a resident among the people of Madyan, reciting to them Our verses, but We were senders [of this message].
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.
The word of Allah, the Exalted: وَلَكِنَّا أَنْشَأْنَا قُرُونًا فَتَطَاوَلَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْعُمُرُ وَمَا كُنْتَ ثَاوِيًا فِي أَهْلِ مَدْيَنَ تَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِنَا وَلَكِنَّا كُنَّا مُرْسِلِينَ (45)
Allah, the Exalted, means by His word: وَلَكِنَّا أَنْشَأْنَا قُرُونًا — "but We created communities and brought them into being thereafter." فَتَطَاوَلَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْعُمُرُ — and the span of time stretched out for them. His word: وَمَا كُنْتَ ثَاوِيًا فِي أَهْلِ مَدْيَنَ — that is to say: you were not a dweller among the people of Madyan. One says: "I sojourned in the place (thawaytu bi-l-makān atḥwī bihi thawāʾan)." Aʿshā Thaʿlaba said:
Athwā wa-qaṣṣara laylabu li-yuzawwadā fa-maḍā wa-akhlafa min Qutaylata mawʿidā
In accordance with what we have said concerning this, the exegetes spoke.
Mention of who said that:
Yūnus related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said concerning the word: وَمَا كُنْتَ ثَاوِيًا فِي أَهْلِ مَدْيَنَ — he said: "al-thāwī: the sojourner, the dweller." تَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِنَا — that is to say: you recite to them Our Scripture. وَلَكِنَّا كُنَّا مُرْسِلِينَ — that is to say: you witnessed none of all that, O Muḥammad, but it was We who did that and sent messengers.
