Az-Zukhruf · Makki · ayah 8 of 89

Az-Zukhruf 43:8

فَأَهْلَكْنَآ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُم بَطْشًا وَمَضَىٰ مَثَلُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

“And We destroyed greater than them[1432] in [striking] power, and the example of the former peoples has preceded.”

Saheeh International

Essence

Peoples with a far harder grip than Quraysh were taken, and their story has already gone ahead as a pattern for anyone who reads it.

A reflection

Stronger hands than yours have been opened

Fa-ahlaknā ashadda minhum baṭshan: so We destroyed those who were stronger than them in grip. One major early commentator spells out the force of it. Those nations, when they struck, struck hard. Their strength did not make them able to resist Us. They could not hold off Our might when it came. So those weaker than them are even less able to resist.

A concise modern commentary adds the plain conclusion. We are not unable to destroy those who are weaker.

The ego loves its grip. It trusts what it can hold on to. A market, a reputation, a body that still obeys, a family that still defers. Pride is very often pride in grip.

Picture a retired rugby forward at a family wedding. Thirty years ago his handshake made new team-mates wince, and he enjoyed that. Now, after a small stroke, he needs both hands round his cup of tea, and his grandson carries his plate. He is still a big man. His grip has simply been loosened by a hand he cannot see.

That is the humbling in this ayah. It does not deny that the ancients were strong. It grants it, and then measures that strength against Allah's. The comparison is not close.

Someone may ask: why does Allah speak of His power to destroy? Is this not a boast of force? The surrounding ayat answer it. Before these nations were taken, prophet after prophet was sent to them (43:6). They mocked every one (43:7). The destruction came at the end of a long patience, not instead of it. And the telling of it now is itself a mercy: a warning given in time, to people who could still listen.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.