Tafseer of The Prostration · As-Sajda · 32:26
Has it not become clear to them how many generations We destroyed before them, [as] they walk among their dwellings? Indeed in that are signs; then do they not hear?
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 explanation of the saying of the Exalted: أَوَلَمْ يَهْدِ لَهُمْ كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ مِنَ الْقُرُونِ يَمْشُونَ فِي مَسَاكِنِهِمْ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لآيَاتٍ أَفَلا يَسْمَعُونَ (26) (Is it not a guidance to them how many generations We destroyed before them, in whose dwellings they walk about? Indeed, in that are signs. Will they then not listen? (26))
As: ʿAlī related to me, saying: Abū Ṣāliḥ related to us, saying: Muʿāwiya related to me, on the authority of ʿAlī, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās: أوَلَمْ يَهْدِ لَهُمْ (Is it not a guidance to them). He says: has it then not made clear to them? And according to the reading with the yāʾ in it the reciters of the various regions recite, and likewise is the reading with us, on account of the consensus of the authoritative proof among the reciters, with the meaning: has it then not made clear to them — Our destruction of the generations that have passed away before them, Our customary way (sunna) with whoever trod their path in denying Our signs — that they might take admonition and restrain themselves? And His saying: كَمْ (how many): when يهْدِ (gives guidance) is read with the yāʾ, it stands in the nominative position by yahdi. But when it is read with the nūn أوَلَمْ نَهْدِ (have We then not given guidance), then the position of كم (how many) and what follows it is in the accusative. And His saying: يَمْشونَ فِي مَساكِنهمْ (in whose dwellings they walk about). The Exalted, whose mention is exalted, says: has it then not made clear to them — the multitude of Our destruction of the generations that passed away before them — while they walk about in their lands and their territories, such as ʿĀd and Thamūd?
As: Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda: أولَمْ يهْدِ لَهُمْ كَمْ أهْلَكْنا مِنْ قَبْلِهمْ مِنَ القُرُونِ (Is it not a guidance to them how many generations We destroyed before them) — ʿĀd and Thamūd, and that they will not return to them.
And His saying: إنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لآيَاتٍ (Indeed, in that are signs). The Exalted, whose mention is exalted, says: indeed, in the emptiness of the dwellings of the generations whom We destroyed before these deniers of the signs of Allah among the Quraysh — their inhabitants who dwelt in them and who populated them, in that We destroyed them when they belied Our messengers, denied Our signs, and worshipped besides Allah other gods — past which they travel and which they behold with their own eyes — in that are signs for them and admonitions by which they might take heed, if they were people of understanding and reason. Allah says: أفلا يَسْمَعُونَ (Will they then not listen?) to the admonitions of Allah and His reminding them of His signs, and His informing them of the locations of His proofs?
