Surah Ta-Ha 20:128
ﱙ ﱚ ﱛ ﱜ ﱝ ﱞ ﱟ ﱠ ﱡ ﱢ ﱣ ﱤ ﱥ ﱦ ﱧ ﱨ ﱩ ﱪ
Then, has it not become clear to them how many generations We destroyed before them as they walk among their dwellings? Indeed in that are signs for those of intelligence.
Tafsir of Ta-Ha 20:128
Tafsir
Al-Kashshaf
Verse range: 20:128
Taha: 128
"Has it not guided them..."
The subject of the verb yahdi (guide) is the sentence that follows it. It means: Has this [the destruction of previous nations] not guided them, with its meaning and content?
A parallel to this is the Almighty’s saying: "And We left for him [a favorable mention] among the later generations: 'Peace upon Noah among the worlds'" (As-Saffat: 79)—meaning, We left this statement for him.
It is also possible that the pronoun refers to Allah or the Messenger, and the reading with the nun (nahdi - "Have We not guided them") supports this.
"...walking in their dwellings"
It means that the Quraysh move about in the lands of ‘Ad and Thamud, walking in their dwellings and witnessing the traces of their destruction.
"And if not for a word that preceded from your Lord, it would have been an obligation, and a specified term."