Surah Al-Ankabut 29:31
سُورَةُ العَنكَبُوتِ · Meccan · Verse 31 of 69
وَلَمَّا جَآءَتْ رُسُلُنَآ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ بِٱلْبُشْرَىٰ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا مُهْلِكُوٓا۟ أَهْلِ هَٰذِهِ ٱلْقَرْيَةِ ۖ إِنَّ أَهْلَهَا كَانُوا۟ ظَٰلِمِينَ
Translation
When Our mes-sengers brought the good news [of the birth of a son] to Abraham,they told him, ‘We are about to destroy the people of that town. They are wrongdoers.’
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This verse opens by bringing us into a pivotal moment in the life of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him). It tells us that when Allah's messengers, who were angels, came to Ibrahim, they arrived with "al-bushra" (البشرى), which means good news.
The Order of News
The very first thing the verse mentions is the "good news," and then immediately after, the angels share the somber tidings. This specific order is meaningful. As Imam al-Razi noted, Allah's mercy precedes His wrath. The angels first deliver the joyful announcement of the birth of a righteous son, Ishaq, and then a grandson, Yaqub, as clarified by al-Muyassar and Ibn Ashur. This act of starting with good news before conveying a message of destruction demonstrates Allah's immense kindness and gentle approach towards His beloved servant Ibrahim. Ibn Ashur emphasizes this as a special grace to Ibrahim, anticipating his compassionate nature.
The Reason for Destruction
After the good news, the angels informed Ibrahim, "Indeed, we are going to destroy the people of this town." Crucially, they immediately followed this with a clear justification: "إِنَّ أَهْلَهَا كَانُوا ظَالِمِينَ" (Indeed, its people *were* wrongdoers). Imam al-Razi beautifully highlights a subtlety here: the angels gave a reason for the *destruction*, but no reason was offered for the *good news*. This implies that Allah's favor and blessings are often unconditioned, a pure act of grace. However, His punishment is always rooted in justice, never arbitrary, and always a consequence of wrongdoing.
The Arabic phrase "كانُوا ظَالِمِينَ" (they *were* wrongdoers) uses the past tense verb "كانوا" (they were), which in this context, as pointed out by al-Zamakhshari, signifies that their wrongdoing was continuous and deeply entrenched in their past actions. It wasn't a sudden or isolated transgression, but a persistent state of injustice and disbelief. This emphasizes the gravity of their sins and the fairness of the impending judgment.
A Deeper Connection
One might wonder why these two seemingly contrasting pieces of news (a birth and a destruction) are delivered together. Al-Razi suggests a profound connection: when Allah intends to empty the earth of a wicked generation through destruction, He reassures His prophets that He will also fill the earth with righteous descendants. This ensures that Ibrahim, known for his compassion, would not grieve over the loss of people from among his kind, knowing that Allah would ensure the continuity of good through his own blessed lineage. In essence, the verse, through its precise wording and careful sequencing, paints a picture of divine mercy, justice, and the overarching plan of Allah for humanity.
Sources: al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jalalayn, al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Ankabut 29:31 is discussed in 5 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
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