ﲩ ﲪ ﲫ ﲬ ﲭ ﲮ ﲯ ﲰ ﲱ ﲲ ﲳ ﲴ ﲵ ﲶ ﲷ ﲸ ﲹ ﲺ ﲻ
And how many a city have We destroyed that was insolent in its [way of] living, and those are their dwellings which have not been inhabited after them except briefly. And it is We who were the inheritors.
Tafsir
Verse range: 28:58
The Destruction of Towns, which are not destroyed until Evidence is established against Them Referring to the people of Makkah, Allah says:
وكم أهلكنا من قرية بطرت معيشتها
And how many a town have We destroyed, which was thankless for its means of livelihood! They were arrogant transgressors who denied Allah's blessing of giving them ample provision. This is like the Ayah,
وضرب الله مثﻼ قرية كانت آمنة مطمينة يٲتيها رزقها رغدا من كل مكان فكفرت بٲنعم الله فٲذاقها الله لباس الجوع والخوف بما كانوا يصنعون
ولقد جاءهم رسول منهم فكذبوه فٲخذهم العذاب وهم ظالمون
And Allah gives the example of a township (Makkah), it was secure and peaceful: its provision coming to it in abundance from every place, but it (its people) denied the favors of Allah. So Allah made it taste extreme hunger (famine) and fear, because of what they did. There has come to them a Messenger from among themselves, but they denied him, so the torment seized them while they were wrongdoers. (16:112-113) Allah said:
فتلك مساكنهم لم تسكن من بعدهم إﻻ قليﻼ
And those are their dwellings, which have not been inhabited after them except a little. Their land became empty and desolate, and you can see nothing but their dwellings.
وكنا نحن الوارثين
And verily, We have been the heirs. Their towns became ruins, with none remaining. Then Allah tells us of His justice and that He does not destroy anyone unjustly; on the contrary, He destroys those whom He destroys after establishing proof against them. So, he says:
