Surah Muhammad 47:13
سُورَةُ مُحَمَّدٍ · Medinan · Verse 13 of 38
وَكَأَيِّن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ هِىَ أَشَدُّ قُوَّةًۭ مِّن قَرْيَتِكَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَخْرَجَتْكَ أَهْلَكْنَٰهُمْ فَلَا نَاصِرَ لَهُمْ
Translation
We have destroyed many a town stronger than your own [Prophet]- the town which [chose to] expel you- and they had no one to help them.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This powerful verse from Surah Muhammad speaks directly to the heart, offering both solace to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and a stern warning to the disbelievers of Mecca. Allah, the Almighty, is the speaker, addressing His Messenger to reflect on past nations who defied their prophets.
How Many Towns?
The verse begins with "وَكَأَيِّن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ" (Wa ka'ayyin min qaryatin), which means "And how many a town" or "And many a town." The word "كأين" (ka'ayyin) is a powerful Arabic expression that emphasizes a *great number* or multitude. It immediately tells us that the examples Allah is about to give are not isolated incidents but countless occurrences throughout history. While "قرية" (qaryah) literally means a physical town, scholars like Ibn Ashur and al-Zamakhshari clarify that here it refers to "أهلها" (ahlaha), its inhabitants, the people themselves. This distinction is crucial because the subsequent destruction, "أهْلَكْناهُمْ" (ahlaknahum), meaning "We destroyed *them*," clearly targets the people, not just their dwellings.
Stronger Than Your Town
Allah continues, describing these past nations: "هِيَ أَشَدُّ قُوَّةًۭ مِّن قَرْيَتِكَ ٱلَّتِيٓ أَخْرَجَتْكَ" (Hiya ashaddu quwwatan min qaryatika allati akhrajatka), meaning "which was greater in power than your town, the one that drove you out." This comparison is a direct challenge to the Meccans, who might have felt invincible due to their strength, alliances, or the sanctity of their city. Allah reminds them that even nations far more formidable than theirs were utterly destroyed.
The phrase "أَخْرَجَتْكَ" (akhrajatka), "drove you out," is particularly poignant. Ibn Ashur explains this is a powerful metaphor (استعارة). The Meccans didn't physically expel the Prophet, but their relentless persecution, ill-treatment, and obstruction of his message forced him to emigrate. By attributing this "expulsion" to the "قرية" (town) itself, Allah underscores the collective guilt of all its inhabitants for their actions against the Prophet, holding everyone responsible, not just a few individuals.
No Helper for Them
The verse concludes with "أَهْلَكْنَٰهُمْ فَلَا نَاصِرَ لَهُمْ" (Ahlaknahum fala nasira lahum), "We destroyed them, and there was no helper for them." The transition from the past tense of destruction ("أهلكناهم") to the seemingly present/timeless negation "فلا ناصر لهم" ("no helper for them") holds deep meaning. As Ibn Ashur beautifully articulates, the use of "لا" (la), which negates the entire class or genus, means there was a complete and absolute absence of any helper for them, not just at the moment of destruction, but continuously. There was no one who could have helped them then, and no one to help them now or in the future from Allah's judgment. This comprehensive and permanent negation of help shatters any lingering hope the Meccan disbelievers might have had in their own strength or their allies. It is a chilling reminder that when Allah's decree comes, no power in creation can stand against it.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Jalalayn
Qur'anic Worlds
This verse opens a powerful window into two key "Quranic Worlds": the immediate World of Revelation for Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and the cautionary Worlds of Past Nations. It begins by addressing the Prophet directly, offering solace and a stark warning.
A Message for the Prophet
The verse, "And how many a town was stronger in might than your town which expelled you, We destroyed them, so there was no helper for them" (Surah 47:13), reveals a poignant moment in the Prophet's life. The Ayah Context explains that "your town" refers to Mecca, the beloved city from which the Prophet and his companions were forced to migrate (the Hijra). As reported by al-Baghawi and Ibn Kathir, when the Prophet left Mecca, he looked back and expressed his deep love for it, saying, "You are the dearest land of Allah to Allah, and the dearest land of Allah to me. If the idolaters had not expelled me, I would not have left you." This verse was then revealed, providing immense comfort and reassurance. It acknowledges the pain of expulsion but places it within a divine context of justice and power.
Lessons from Past Nations
Through the lens of "Worlds of Past Nations," Allah reminds the Prophet, and by extension us, that his predicament was not unique. Many towns (قرية) before Mecca, whose people were "stronger in might" (أشد قوة) than those who drove him out, had rebelled against their messengers. Allah, in His justice, utterly "destroyed them" (أهلكناهم), and when destruction came, "there was no helper for them" (فلا ناصر لهم). This serves as a powerful historical lesson and a severe warning to the people of Mecca. Al-Razi explains that this is a way to console the Prophet, implying that if those stronger nations were met with destruction for their disbelief, the people of Mecca could expect a similar fate if they persisted in their rejection. Sayyid Qutb underscores this comparison, highlighting that these powerful people, who seemed so formidable in preventing the Islamic call, were in truth very weak against Allah's decree.
A Deeper Consolation
This verse not only consoles the Prophet but also offers a timeless principle for believers: when facing overwhelming opposition, remember that worldly strength is fleeting. Allah's plan is supreme, and those who oppose Him, no matter how mighty, will ultimately find no helper against His judgment. The verse is a reminder of divine justice and the ultimate triumph of truth.
Sources: al-Baghawi (Maalim al-Tanzil), Ma'arif al-Quran (Mufti Shafi), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), Sayyid Qutb (Fi Zilal al-Quran), Ibn Kathir
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Muhammad 47:13 is discussed in 2 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Muhammad 47:13 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.