Surah 6

Surah 6:131

"That (is because) your Lord was not one to destroy the towns in an evil manner, while their people were oblivious."
Tafsir Ibn Kathir Verses 6:131-132
Show Full Scripture Context (6:131-132) — 2 Verses
Verse 131

ذَٰلِكَ أَن لَّمۡ يَكُن رَّبُّكَ مُهۡلِكَ ٱلۡقُرَىٰ بِظُلۡمٖ وَأَهۡلُهَا غَٰفِلُونَ

That (is because) your Lord was not one to destroy the towns in an evil manner, while their people were oblivious.

Verse 132

وَلِكُلّٖ دَرَجَٰتٞ مِّمَّا عَمِلُواْۚ وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِغَٰفِلٍ عَمَّا يَعۡمَلُونَ

And for each (there are) ranks according to what they have done, and your Lord is not oblivious of what they do.

131. Tin's is because your Lord would not destroy the (populations of) towns for their wrongdoing while their people were unaware.
132. For all there will be degrees according to what they did. And your Lord is not unaware of what they do.

Allah said,

TItis is because your Lord would not destroy the (populations of) towns far their wrongdoing while their people were unaware.}

meaning: “We sent the Messengers and revealed the Books to the Jinns and mankind, so that no one has an excuse that he is being punished for his wrongs although he did not receive Allah’s Message. Therefore, We did not punish any of the nations, except after sending Messengers to them, so that they have no excuse.’ Allah said in other Ay at,

And there never was a nation but a wamer had passed among them.} [35:24], and

And verily, We have sent among every Umrnah a Messenger (proclaiming) : "Worship Allah, and stay away from At-Tdghut (all false deities)."} [16:36], and

And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger.} [17:15], and,

Every time a group is cast therein, its keeper will ask: "Did no warmer come to you?" They will say: "Yes, indeed a warmer did come to us, but we belied him.") [67:8-9]

There are many other Ayat on this subject. At-Tabari said, “Allah's statement,

For all there will be degrees according to what they did.)

means, every person who obeys Allah or behaves disobediently, has grades and ranks according to their works, which Allah gives them as recompense, good for good and evil for evil.” I say, it is possible that Allah’s statement,

For all there will be degrees according to what they did.)

refers to the disbelievers of the Jinns and mankind who will earn a place in the Fire according to their evil deeds. Allah said,

He ivill say: "For each one there is double (torment) .")[ 7:38], and,

Those who disbelieved and hinder (others) from the path of Allah, for them We ivill add torment to the torment because they used to spread corruption.) (16:88)

Allah said next,

And your Lord is not unaware of what they do.)

Ibn Jarir commented, “All these deeds that they did, O Muhammad, they did while your Lord is aware of them, and He collects and records these deeds with Him, so that He recompenses them when they meet Him and return to Him.”

— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Vol. 4, Page 473)

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.