سورة مريم، الآية ٧٤
وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّن قَرْنٍ هُمْ أَحْسَنُ أَثَٰثًا وَرِءْيًا ٧٤
wakam ahlaknā qablahum min qarnin hum aḥsanu athāthan wari'yan
And how many a generation have We destroyed before them who were better in possessions and [outward] appearance?
Verse 74 of Surah Maryam (19:74), a Meccan surah, is in juz 16, on page 310 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 72 reciters.
78 recitations by 72 reciters: pick one and it plays in the player.
How many were the nations that I destroyed before these disbelievers who are proud of their material superiority, who had surpassed them in riches and in their outward appearance due to their expensive clothing and their bodily luxuries.
How many generations We have destroyed before them who were superior in terms of wealth and outward appearance!
And how many a generation (past nations) have We destroyed before them, who were better in wealth, goods and outward appearance?
How many a generation have We destroyed before them, who were more imposing in respect of gear and outward seeming!
But how many (countless) generations before them have we destroyed, who were even better in equipment and in glitter to the eye?
And how many of the generations have We destroyed before them who were better in respect of goods and outward appearance!
And how many a generation We caused to perish before them. They were fairer in furnishings and outward show!
كَمْ تَرَكُوا۟ مِن جَنَّٰتٍ وَعُيُونٍ …
How much they left behind of gardens and springs …
أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ ٱلرِّجَالَ وَتَقْطَعُونَ ٱلسَّبِيلَ وَتَأْتُونَ فِى نَادِيكُمُ ٱلْمُنكَرَ فَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُوا۟ ٱئْتِنَا بِعَذَابِ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ
Indeed, you approach men and obstruct the road and commit in your meetings [every] evil." And the answer of his people was not but that they said, "Bring us the punishment of Allāh, if you should be of the truthful."
They share a sequence of words with this verse: useful for telling them apart when memorising.
وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّن قَرْنٍ هُمْ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُم بَطْشًا فَنَقَّبُوا۟ فِى ٱلْبِلَٰدِ هَلْ مِن مَّحِيصٍ
And how many a generation before them did We destroy who were greater than them in [striking] power and had explored throughout the lands. Is there any place of escape?
وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّن قَرْنٍ هَلْ تُحِسُّ مِنْهُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ أَوْ تَسْمَعُ لَهُمْ رِكْزًۢا
And how many have We destroyed before them of generations? Do you perceive of them anyone or hear from them a sound?
