Surah 38

Surah 38:12

"Before them the people of Noah called (it) a lie, and ‘Ād, and Pharaoh, he of the stakes,"
A Reminder of Those Who were destroyed among the Previous Nations Verses 38:12-16
Show Full Scripture Context (38:12-16) — 5 Verses
Verse 12

كَذَّبَتۡ قَبۡلَهُمۡ قَوۡمُ نُوحٖ وَعَادٞ وَفِرۡعَوۡنُ ذُو ٱلۡأَوۡتَادِ

Before them the people of Noah called (it) a lie, and ‘Ād, and Pharaoh, he of the stakes,

Verse 13

وَثَمُودُ وَقَوۡمُ لُوطٖ وَأَصۡحَٰبُ لۡـَٔيۡكَةِۚ أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلۡأَحۡزَابُ

and Thamūd, and the people of Lot, and the people of the Grove – those were the factions.

Verse 14

إِن كُلٌّ إِلَّا كَذَّبَ ٱلرُّسُلَ فَحَقَّ عِقَابِ

Each of them called the messengers liars, and My retribution was justified.

Verse 15

وَمَا يَنظُرُ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ إِلَّا صَيۡحَةٗ وَٰحِدَةٗ مَّا لَهَا مِن فَوَاقٖ

What do these (people) expect but a single cry, for which (there will be) no delay.

Verse 16

وَقَالُواْ رَبَّنَا عَجِّل لَّنَا قِطَّنَا قَبۡلَ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡحِسَابِ

They say, ‘Our Lord, hurry our share to us before the Day of Reckoning!’

Allah tells us about those past nations and the punishment and vengeance that struck them for their going against the Messengers and disbelieving in the Prophets, peace be upon them. We have already seen their stories in detail in numerous places (in the Qur'an). Allah says: "such were the Confederates." meaning, 'they were greater and stronger than you, they had more wealth and children, but that did not protect them from the punishment of Allah at all when the command of your Lord came to pass.' Allah says: "Not one of them but denied the Messengers; therefore My torment was justified." The reason for their destruction was their disbelief in the Messengers, so let those who are addressed here beware and be afraid. "And these only wait for a single Sayhah there will be no pause or ending thereto." Malik narrated from Zayd bin Aslam: "there will be no pause or ending thereto." "It will not be delayed." The meaning is that these idolators will only be struck by the Trumpet blast of the Hour, as Allah says: They await not but a single Sayhah which will seize them while they are disputing!. "They say: "Our Lord! Hasten to us Qittana before the Day of Reckoning!"" Ibn 'Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak, Al-Hasan and others said, "Our punishment." Qatadah added, in this world. Ibn 'Abbas and others said that Qitt means a record or a book. "They said this in mockery, 'give us our record of deeds now, in this world.'" Something similar was said by the idolators: O Allah! If this is indeed the truth from You, then rain down stones on us from the sky or bring on us a painful torment.. And Allah says: Those who believe not therein seek to hasten it.

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.