Al-Hajj Verse 45

Many are the societies We have destroyed for persisting in wrongdoing, leaving them in total ruin. ˹Many are˺ also the abandoned wells and lofty palaces!

How many towns We have destroyed for their persistent wrongdoing, leaving them in total ruin; their wells abandoned and their lofty palaces deserted!

How many a city We have destroyed in its evildoing, and now it is fallen down upon its turrets! How many a ruined well, a tall palace!

How many towns steeped in wrongdoing We have destroyed and left in total ruin; how many deserted wells; how many lofty palaces!

How many a city have We destroyed, while it was a wrong- doer--and it lieth overturned on its roofs, -and how many a well abandoned and how many a castle fortifred!

How many populations have We destroyed, which were given to wrong-doing? They tumbled down on their roofs. And how many wells are lying idle and neglected, and castles lofty and well-built?

How many towns have We destroyed because their people were steeped in iniquity: so they lie fallen down upon their turrets! How many wells lie deserted; and how many towering palaces lie in ruins!

How many a habitation given to wickedness have We destroyed, whose roofs tumbled down, which fell into ruins. How many a well and fortress reinforced lie abandoned!

And many a township did We destroy, for they were oppressors – so they now lie flat on their roofs, and many a well lying useless and many a palace in ruins.

How many towns We have destroyed when they had been wrongdoers! So they lie fallen on their trellises, their wells neglected and their ruined palaces!

How many a township have We destroyed because it was given up to wrongdoing: so they all lie in ruins, with their roofs caved in, wells and fountains deserted, and towering, lofty castles collapsed.

We have destroyed so many townships because (the people thereof) were given to wicked ways so that they have fallen down on their roofs, and how many a well is completely deserted: (similarly) many a strongly built lofty castles (met the same doom because We destroyed their occupants).

So how many from a village/urban city We made it die/destroyed it, and it is unjust/oppressive, so it is empty/destroyed on its ceilings/structures , and a well abandoned/inactive , and an erected/plastered castle/palace ?

And many a township did We destroy, for they were oppressors – so they now lie flat on their roofs, and many a well lying useless and many a palace in ruins.

And the dweller of Midian; and Moses was called a liar too: but I indulged the disbelievers a long while, and then I seized them, and how terrible was My rejection!

And many a township have We destroyed while it was given to wrong-doing, so that it lies in ruins (up to this day), and (many) a deserted well and lofty castles!

And the dwellers of Midian. And Moses (too) was rejected. But I gave respite to the disbelievers, then I seized them; so how (severe) was My disapproval!

So how many a town did We destroy while it was unjust, so it was fallen down upon its roofs, and (how many a) deserted well and palace raised high.

How many a township have We destroyed while it was sinful, so that it lieth (to this day) in ruins, and (how many) a deserted well and lofty tower!

How many were the unjust dwellers of the towns that We destroyed. From their trellises to their lofty mansions, all were toppled and their wells were abandoned.

How many a village We have destroyed in its harmdoing, so that it lies fallen upon its turrets, and how many an abandoned well, and empty palace!

And many a township did We destroy while they were given to wrongdoing, so that it lie in ruins, and a deserted well and castle Mashid!

How many a town We destroyed which was given to wrongdoing, so that its roofs fell down, and how many a well is deserted and how many a lofty castle is in ruins.

How many a town have We destroyed while it was doing wrong? They lie in ruins; with stilled wells, and lofty mansions.

How many a town I have destroyed (ahlaktuh, a variant reading has ahlaknh, `We have destroyed'), while it was doing wrong, that is, while its inhabitants were [doing wrong] by being disbelievers, but now it lies fallen down, collapsed, on its roofs and, how many, a neglected well, abandoned because of the death of its owners, and a lofty palace, stands empty because of the death of its residents.

فَكَأَيِّن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ أَهْلَكْنَاهَا

And many a township did We destroy,

وَهِيَ ظَالِمَةٌ

while they were given wrongdoing,

meaning, they were rejecting their Messengers.

فَهِيَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَى عُرُوشِهَا

so that it lie in ruins,

Ad-Dahhak said,

"(Leveled to) their roofs," i.e., their houses and cities were destroyed.

وَبِيْرٍ مُّعَطَّلَةٍ

and (many) a deserted well,

means, they draw no water from it, and no one comes to it, after it had been frequented often by crowds of people.

وَقَصْرٍ مَّشِيدٍ



and a castle Mashid!

Ikrimah said,

"This means whitened with plaster."

Something similar was narrated from Ali bin Abi Talib, Mujahid, Ata', Sa`id bin Jubayr, Abu Al-Mulayh and Ad-Dahhak.

Others said that it means high and impenetrable fortresses.

All of these suggestions are close in meaning and do not contradict one another, for this sturdy construction and great height did not help their occupants or afford them any protection when the punishment of Allah came upon them, as He says;

أَيْنَمَا تَكُونُواْ يُدْرِككُّمُ الْمَوْتُ وَلَوْ كُنتُمْ فِى بُرُوجٍ مُّشَيَّدَةٍ

"Wheresoever you may be, death will overtake you even if you are in Buruj Mushayyadah!" (4;78)