Tafsir of Al-Mu'minoon 23:42-44

The Believers (Al-Mu'minun): Verses 42–44

[42] Then We produced after them other generations.

It is known that the Almighty narrates stories in the Qur'an sometimes in detail, as previously mentioned, and sometimes in summary, as here. Some commentators suggest that the intended story here is that of Lot, Shu'ayb, Ayyub, and Joseph (peace be upon them).

As for His saying: {Then We produced after them other generations}, the meaning is that He did not leave the lands empty of accountable beings. He created them and brought them to the age of accountability, so they took the place of those who came before them in populating the world.

[43] No nation can precede its term, nor can they delay it.

Regarding this term (ajal), it could mean the term of their life and accountability, or it could mean the term of their death and destruction. Although the more apparent meaning when ajal is mentioned without qualification is the time of death, it is clarified that every nation has written terms for life and death; they can neither advance nor be delayed. This serves as a reminder that He knows things before they occur, so nothing happens except according to His knowledge. This is similar to His saying: {Indeed, the term of Allah, when it comes, is not delayed, if you only knew} (Al-A'raf: 34).

Herein lie two issues:

The First Issue: Our scholars state that this verse indicates that a person who is killed has died by his appointed term. If he were killed before his term, the term would have either advanced or been delayed, which contradicts this text.

The Second Issue: Al-Ka'bi said that the meaning of {No nation can precede its term} is that they will not advance the appointed time for their punishment if they do not believe, nor will they be delayed from it. They will not be utterly destroyed unless it is known that they will only increase in obstinacy, that they will not give birth to a believer, and that their continued existence offers no benefit to others, nor does their destruction cause harm to anyone. This is like what Noah (peace be upon him) said: {Indeed, if You should leave them, they will mislead Your servants, and they will not beget except [sinful, disbelieving] offspring} (Nuh: 27).

[44] Then We sent Our messengers one after another.

This means that just as He created some generations after others, He sent messengers to them sequentially. Ibn Kathir recited تَتْرَى (tatrā) with tanwin (nunation), while the rest recited it without tanwin. The latter is preferred by most linguists because it is a fa'lā form derived from mutawātirah (successive), and the fa'lā form is often not nunated, like da'wā and taqwā. The tā' (ت) is a substitution for the wāw (و), as it is derived from al-witr, meaning 'single' or 'odd number'. Al-Wahidi stated that tatrā can be a maṣdar (verbal noun) or a noun used in place of a ḥāl (circumstantial adverb) in both readings, because the meaning is mutawātirah (successively).

[44] Whenever a messenger came to a nation, they denied him.

This means that in denying their prophets, they followed the path of those mentioned before them whom Allah destroyed by drowning and the Shout. Therefore, He said: {So We made them follow one another}, meaning destruction followed destruction.

{And We made them tales/narratives}

This could mean the plural of ḥadīth (story/report), like the aḥādīth of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). The meaning is that the Almighty reached such a degree in destroying them that they became mere narratives—no physical presence or trace of them remains, except for the story that is told and serves as a lesson.

Alternatively, it could be the plural of uḥdūthah (a subject of talk), similar to uḍḥūkah (a jest) or u'jūbah (a wonder), which are things people talk about for amusement or astonishment.

Then He said: {So, away with the people who do not believe!} This is a form of supplication, condemnation, and reprimand. By this, He indicated that just as they were swiftly destroyed in this world, their punishment in the Hereafter through eternal torment is anticipated. This is a severe warning.

The Fourth Story: The Story of Moses (peace be upon him)

[45] Then We sent Moses and his brother Aaron with Our signs and a clear authority

[46] To Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they were arrogant and were a proud people.

[47] And they said, "Shall we believe in two human beings like ourselves, while their people are for us servants?"

[48] So they denied them both, and they were among those destroyed.

[49] And indeed, We gave Moses the Scripture that they might be guided.