Transliteration:( Wazkuroo iz ja'alakum khulafaaa'a mim ba'di 'Aadinw wa bawwa akum fil ardi tattakhizoona min suhoolihaa qusooranw wa tanhitoonal jibaala buyootan fazkurooo aalaaa'al laahi wa laa ta'saw fil ardi mufsideen )
"And remember when He made you successors of Aad and assigned you a place in the land that you build palaces [182] on its plains, and hack out houses in its mountains [183]. Then remember the bounties of Allah and wander not on the earth spreading mischief [184]."
After the destruction of the people of Aad, Allah established the people of Thamud in their place. This succession was itself a divine bounty, reminding us that reflecting upon Allah’s blessings—especially such historical transformations—is an act of worship. Remembering how Allah granted strength and land to a new people after removing the previous wrongdoers carries a deep lesson.
The Thamudites were skilled builders, constructing summer palaces on plains and warm houses carved into mountains for winter—much like the wealthy do today. Their lifespans were so long that their own homes would be rebuilt or decay within their own lifetimes, signifying both their architectural excellence and worldly abundance. This comfort, however, led to pride and heedlessness for many among them.
Allah warns not to spread mischief after being blessed with such gifts and power. Mischief includes infidelity, sinful acts, and moral corruption, such as theft, violence, alcohol, gambling, and other forbidden practices. Such behavior leads to divine punishment and causes widespread disruption in society. Hence, remembrance of blessings must be paired with obedience and righteousness.
The tafsir of Surah Al-A’raf verse 74 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah A’raf ayat 73 which provides the complete commentary from verse 73 through 78.
(7:74) And call to mind when He made you successors after ‘Ad and gave you power in the earth so that you took for yourselves palaces in its plains and hewed out dwellings in the mountains.[59] Remember, then, the wondrous bounties of Allah and do not go about creating mischief in the land.’[60]
59. The Thamud were highly skilful in rock-carving, and made huge mansions by carving the mountains, as we have mentioned earlier see (n. 57 )above. In this regard the works of the Thamud resemble the rock-carvings in the Ajanta and Ellora caves in India and several other places. A few buildings erected by the Thamud are still intact in Mada’in Salih and speak of their tremendous skills in civil engineering and architecture.
60. The Qur’an asks people to draw a lesson from the tragic end of the ‘Ad. For just as God destroyed that wicked people and established Muslims in positions of power and influence previously occupied by them, He can also destroy the Muslims and replace them by Others if they should become wicked and mischievous. (For further elaboration see (n. 52 )above.
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