Transliteration:( Afalam yaseeroo fil ardi fa yanzuroo kaifa kaana 'aaqibatul lazeena min qablihim; kaanoo aksara minhum wa ashadda quwwatanw wa aasaaran fil ardi famaaa aghnaa 'anhum maa kaanoo yaksiboon )
"Have they not travelled in the land [206] that they might see how was the end [207] of those before them? They were more numerous and [208] stronger in might than these. But, what they earned did not benefit them [209]."
Two key rulings emerge from this:
Travelling to view the ruins of past nations who were destroyed by divine punishment is not only permissible but commendable, as it inspires reflection and fear of Allah’s power.
Visiting the graves or shrines of the pious with the intention of witnessing the bounties of Allah upon them is also an excellent deed.
The Hadith which restricts travel to only three mosques—Masjid al-Haram, Masjid an-Nabawi, and Masjid al-Aqsa—pertains specifically to mosques for the purpose of gaining greater reward, not to spiritual visits to shrines.
This verse shows that:
Historical fame or widespread verbal transmission is a valid basis for accepting events and locations of the past.
Allah did not specify locations but commanded us to take lessons from the ruins known even through oral tradition.
This proves that lineage, relics, and historical places known through reliable fame do not require direct Qur’anic or Hadith evidence for legitimacy.
Those destroyed before had:
Greater numbers, wealth, strength, and impressive buildings.
Yet, none of these worldly strengths saved them from divine punishment.
So, how can the deniers of today, with lesser strength, hope to succeed while opposing their Prophet?
This is a universal principle:
Their efforts, wealth, alliances, and strategies could not save them from Allah’s decree.
Analogical reasoning is valid in belief matters—what befell past deniers will befall present ones too if they persist in disbelief.
This verse urges people to reflect on history, humble themselves, and accept divine truth before it's too late.
82. Have they not traveled through the earth and seen what was the end of those before them They were more in number than them and mightier in strength, and in the traces in the land; yet all that they used to earn availed them not. 83. Then when their Messengers came to them with clear proofs, they were glad (and proud) with that which they had of the knowledge (of worldly things). And that at which they used to mock, surrounded them. 84. So when they saw Our punishment, they said: “We believe in Allah Alone and reject (all) that we used to associate with Him as (His) partners.” 85. Then their Faith could not avail them when they saw Our punishment. (Like) this has been the way of Allah in dealing with His servants. And there the disbelievers lost utterly.
Allah tells us about the nations who rejected their Messengers in ancient times. He mentioned the severe punishment they suffered despite their great strength, He mentioned the traces which they left behind in the earth and the great wealth they amassed. None of that availed them anything and could not prevent the punishment of Allah at all. That is because when the Messengers came to them with clear signs and decisive evidence, they did not pay any attention to them. Instead, they were content with the knowledge with them, or so they claimed, and they said that they did not need what the Messengers brought them. Mujahid said, “They said, we know better than them, we will not be resurrected and we will not be punished.” As-Suddi said, “In their ignorance, they rejoiced in what they had of (worldly) knowledge. So Allah sent upon them a punishment which they could not escape or resist.”
(and surrounded them.) means, encompassed them.
(that at which they used to mock,) means, that which they used to disbelieve in and said would never happen,
(So when they saw Our punishment,) means, when they saw with their own eyes the punishment which came upon them, they said,
(We believe in Allah Alone and reject (all) that we used to associate with Him as (His) partners. ) means, they affirmed that Allah is One and denied the false gods, but this was at the time when excuses were to no avail. This is like what Fir`awn said as he was drowning:
(I believe that none has the right to be worshipped but He in Whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am one of the Muslims.) (10:90) But Allah said:
(Now (you believe) while you refused to believe before and you were one of the the corrupters.) (10:91) meaning, Allah did not accept this from him, because He had answered the prayer of His Prophet Musa, when he said,
(And harden their hearts, so that they will not believe until they see the painful torment) (10:88). Allah says here:
(Then their Faith could not avail them when they saw Our punishment. (Like) this has been the way of Allah in dealing with His servants.) means, this is the ruling of Allah concerning all those who repent only when they actually see the punishment: He does not accept that from them. It says in the Hadith:
(Allah will accept the repentance of His servant so long as the death rattle is not sounding in his throat.) Once the death rattle is sounding and the soul has reached the throat, and the dying person actually sees the angel (of death), then he can no longer repent. Allah says:
(And there the disbelievers lost utterly.) This is the end of the Tafsir of Surah Ghafir. Praise and thanks be to Allah.
(40:82) Did[111] they not journey in the land that they may behold the end of those who had gone before them? They were more numerous and greater in strength and left behind more splendid traces in the land. Yet their attainments did not avail them.
111. This is the conclusion to the discourse. While studying this please also keep in view (Surah Ghafir, ayat 4-5) and (Surah Ghafir, ayat 21) of this Surah.
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