Tafsir of Al-Qasas 28:45

"But We brought forth generations..."

If you ask: How does the statement, "But We brought forth generations," connect to the preceding discourse? And in what way is it a rectification (istidrak)?

I say: Its connection and its nature as a rectification lie in the fact that its meaning is: "But We brought forth many generations after the era of revelation, leading up to your era."

"And long ages passed over them"—meaning the duration of the cessation of revelation, during which knowledge faded away. Consequently, it became necessary to send you to them. Thus, We sent you and clothed you with the knowledge of the stories of the prophets and the story of Moses (peace be upon them).

It is as if He said: "You were not a witness to Moses and what transpired with him, but We revealed it to you." He mentions the cause of the revelation—which is the lengthening of the interval (fatrah)—and thereby points to the effect, according to the custom of Allah (Mighty and Majestic is He) in His concise expressions.

Thus, this rectification is similar to the two rectifications that follow it:

"And you were not dwelling"—meaning, you were not a resident—"among the people of Midian" (who are Shu'ayb and those who believed in him), "reciting Our verses to them"—meaning, reading them to them as one who learns from them. He means the verses containing the story of Shu'ayb and his people. "But We sent you, informed you of them, and taught them to you."

"And you were not at the side of the Mount when We called, but [it is] a mercy from your Lord, that you may warn a people to whom no warner had come before you, that they might remember."