سورة الزخرف، الآية ٨
فَأَهْلَكْنَآ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُم بَطْشًا وَمَضَىٰ مَثَلُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ ٨
fa-ahlaknā ashadda min'hum baṭshan wamaḍā mathalu l-awalīna
And We destroyed greater than them1432 in [striking] power, and the example of the former peoples has preceded.
[1432] The disbelievers of the Quraysh, who denied Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ).
Verse 8 of Surah Az-Zukhruf (43:8), a Meccan surah, is in juz 25, on page 489 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 74 reciters.
80 recitations by 74 reciters: pick one and it plays in the player.
I destroyed those who were mightier than those nations, so we not incapable of destroying those who are weaker than them. The description of the destruction of the previous nations has passed in the Qur’ān, such as the Ad, Thamud, nation of Lot and the people of Madyan.
So We destroyed them, although they were greater in might than these [Pagans]4, and the stories of the earlier nations have already been related5.
[4] Of the Quraysh.
[5] Such as the people of Noah, Lot, Shu’ayb and other nations who were destroyed.
Then We destroyed men stronger (in power) than these - and the example of the ancients has passed away (before them).
Then We destroyed men mightier than these in prowess; and the example of the men of old hath gone (before them).
So We destroyed (them)- stronger in power than these;- and (thus) has passed on the Parable of the peoples of old.
Then We destroyed those who were stronger than these in prowess, and the case of the ancients has gone before,
So We caused to perish (people) more valiant in assault than they, and the similitude of the earliest (people) has passed away.
أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ كَانُوٓا۟ أَكْثَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَأَشَدَّ قُوَّةً وَءَاثَارًا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَمَآ أَغْنَىٰ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ
Have they not traveled through the land and observed how was the end of those before them? They were more numerous than themselves and greater in strength and in impression on the land, but they were not availed by what they used to earn.
فَجَعَلْنَٰهُمْ سَلَفًا وَمَثَلًا لِّلْـَٔاخِرِينَ
And We made them a precedent and an example for the later peoples.
فَلَمْ يَكُ يَنفَعُهُمْ إِيمَٰنُهُمْ لَمَّا رَأَوْا۟ بَأْسَنَا سُنَّتَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّتِى قَدْ خَلَتْ فِى عِبَادِهِۦ وَخَسِرَ هُنَالِكَ ٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ
But never did their faith benefit them once they saw Our punishment. [It is] the established way of Allāh which has preceded among His servants. And the disbelievers thereupon lost [all].
سُنَّةَ ٱللَّهِ فِى ٱلَّذِينَ خَلَوْا۟ مِن قَبْلُ وَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّةِ ٱللَّهِ تَبْدِيلًا
[This is] the established way of Allāh with those who passed on before; and you will not find in the way of Allāh any change.
