Surah Al An'am Tafseer

أَلَمْ يَرَوْاْ كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّن قَرْنٍ مَّكَّنَّاهُمْ فِي الَارْضِ مَا لَمْ نُمَكِّن لَّكُمْ

Have they not seen how many a generation before them We have destroyed whom We had established on the earth such as We have not established you!

meaning, they had more wealth, children, buildings, abundant provision, riches and soldiers.

Allah said next,

وَأَرْسَلْنَا السَّمَاء عَلَيْهِم مِّدْرَارًا

and We poured out on them rain from the sky in abundance,

in reference to rain that comes often,

وَجَعَلْنَا الَانْهَارَ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهِمْ

And made the rivers flow under them.

as rain was abundant and the springs were plentiful, so that We deceived them.

فَأَهْلَكْنَاهُم بِذُنُوبِهِمْ

Yet We destroyed them for their sins,

meaning the mistakes and errors that they committed,

وَأَنْشَأْنَا مِن بَعْدِهِمْ قَرْنًا اخَرِينَ

and created after them other generations,

for, these generations of old perished and became as legends and stories,

(And created after them other generations), so that We test the new generations, as well. Yet, they committed similar errors and were destroyed, as their ancestors were destroyed. Therefore, beware of the same end that might befall you, for you are not dearer to Allah than these previous nations, but the Messenger whom you defied is dearer to Allah than the Messengers they defied. Thus, you are more liable than them to receive torment, if it was not for Allah's mercy and kindness