Surah Al Hijr Tafseer

وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنكُمْ

And indeed, We know the first generations of you who had passed away....

Ibn Abbas said,

"The first generations are all those who have passed away since the time of Adam. The present generations and those who will come afterward refer to those who are alive now and who are yet to come, until the Day of Resurrection."

Something similar was narrated from Ikrimah, Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak, Qatadah, Muhammad bin Ka`b, Ash-Sha`bi and others.

Ibn Jarir reported from Muhammad bin Abi Ma`shar, from his father, that;

he heard Awn bin Abdullah discussing the following Ayah with Muhammad bin Ka`b:

وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنكُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا الْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ

And indeed, We know the first generations of you who had passed away, and indeed, We know the present generations of you (mankind), and also those who will come afterwards,

and it was stated that it refers to the rows for prayer.

Muhammad bin Ka`b said, "This is not the case.

(And indeed, We know the first generations of you who had passed away),

it refers to those who are dead or have been killed,

and;

الْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ

(and also those who will come afterwards),

meaning those who have yet to be created.

وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ إِنَّهُ حَكِيمٌ عَلِيمٌ