walaqad baʿathnā fī kulli ummatin rasūlan ani uʿ'budū l-laha wa-ij'tanibū l-ṭāghūta famin'hum man hadā l-lahu wamin'hum man ḥaqqat ʿalayhi l-ḍalālatu fasīrū fī l-arḍi fa-unẓurū kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu l-mukadhibīna
Translation
And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], "Worship Allāh and avoid ṭāghūt."698 And among them were those whom Allāh guided, and among them were those upon whom error was [deservedly] decreed. So proceed [i.e., travel] through the earth and observe how was the end of the deniers.
Verse 36 of Surah An-Nahl (16:36), a Meccan surah, is in juz 14, on page 271 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 73 reciters.
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Tafsir of verse 36
Al-Mukhtasar
We had sent to every previous nation a Messenger instructing his nation to worship Allah alone, and leave the worship of others beside Him such as idols, satans etc. Some of them were guided by Allah and had faith in Him, while others rejected Allah and went against His Messenger so He did not guide them and they deserved misguidance. So travel through the earth to see for yourselves what the end result of the deniers was after the punishment and destruction came upon them.
Indeed, We sent to every community a messenger, [saying], “Worship Allah and shun false gods23.” Among them were some whom Allah guided, while others were destined to stray. So travel through the land and see how was the end of the deniers!
Notes
[23] Tāghūt: false objects of worship. See footnote 2:256.
And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): "Worship Allâh (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Tâghût12 (all false deities i.e. do not worship Tâghût besides Allâh)." Then of them were some whom Allâh guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied (the truth).
Notes
[12] (V.16:36) Tâghut: See the footnote of (V.2:256).
And verily We have raised in every nation a messenger, (proclaiming): Serve Allah and shun false gods. Then some of them (there were) whom Allah guided, and some of them (there were) upon whom error had just hold. Do but travel in the land and see the nature of the consequence for the deniers!
For We assuredly sent amongst every People a messenger, (with the Command), "Serve Allah, and eschew Evil": of the People were some whom Allah guided, and some on whom error became inevitably (established). So travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those who denied (the Truth).
And certainly We raised in every nation a messenger saying: Serve Allah and shun the Shaitan. So there were some of them whom Allah guided and there were others against whom error was due; therefore travel in the land, then see what was the end of the rejecters.
And indeed We have already sent forth in every nation a Messenger (saying), "Worship Allah and avoid the Taghut." (i.e., false gods) Then (some) of them Allah guided; and errancy came true against (some of) them. So travel in the earth, then look into how was the end of the beliers.
