Tafseer of The Originator · Faatir · 35:44
Have they not traveled through the land and observed how was the end of those before them? And they were greater than them in power. But Allah is not to be caused failure by anything in the heavens or on the earth. Indeed, He is ever Knowing and Competent.
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 words of the Exalted: أَوَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الأَرْضِ فَيَنْظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ وَكَانُوا أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُعْجِزَهُ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَلا فِي الأَرْضِ إِنَّهُ كَانَ عَلِيمًا قَدِيرًا (Have they then not traveled through the earth to see how was the end of those who were before them? And they were mightier than them in power. And there is nothing that can render Allah powerless, neither in the heavens nor on the earth; truly, He is All-Knowing, All-Powerful) (44).
The Exalted, whose praise is exalted, says: Have these polytheists, who ascribe partners to Allah, O Muḥammad, then not traveled through the earth whose inhabitants We destroyed because of their unbelief in Us and their denial of Our messengers — for they are merchants who travel the road of al-Shām (Syria) — to see how was the end of those who were before them among the communities past which they used to journey: did We not destroy them, and lay waste their dwelling places, and make them an example for those who came after them, that they might take warning from them and be restrained from that on which they persist in worshipping the idols by ascribing partners to Allah (shirk), and that they might know that the One who dealt with those people as He dealt with them — while they were mightier than them in power — it will not be impossible for Him to deal with them likewise as He dealt with those people, namely the hastening of vengeance and punishment upon them.
And in accordance with what we have said concerning His words and they were mightier than them in power, the exegetes (ahl al-taʾwīl) have spoken.
* Mention of who said that:
Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda and they were mightier than them in power: He informs you that He gave to that people what He has not given to you.
And His words And there is nothing that can render Allah powerless, neither in the heavens nor on the earth — the Exalted, whose praise is exalted, says: and these polytheists who ascribe partners to Allah, the worshippers of the idols, who deny Muḥammad, will not render Us powerless, such that they would outstrip Us in flight through the earth when We will their destruction; for Allah is not such that anything He wills could render Him powerless, neither in the heavens nor on the earth, and these polytheists will not be able to escape through the regions of the heavens and the earth. And His words truly, He is All-Knowing, All-Powerful — the Exalted, whose praise is exalted, says: truly, Allah is All-Knowing concerning His creation, and concerning what shall come to pass, and concerning which of them deserves that the punishment be hastened for him, and which of them turns back from his error and returns to guidance; All-Powerful to take vengeance on whomever of them He wills, and to bring whomever of them He wills to faith.
