مَا تَسْبِقُ مِنْ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلَهَا وَمَا يَسْتَـْٔخِرُونَ
Maa tasbiqu min ummatin ajalahaa wa maa yastaakhiroon
No nation will precede its time [of termination], nor will they remain [thereafter].

Tafsir

67%37%47%Al-JalalaynIbn AbbasIbn Kathir
Scholars offer diverse perspectives

No community can precede its term by dying before it nor be deferred beyond it the person in the second verb yasta’khirūna ‘be deferred’ is masculine having been feminine in the first verb tasbiqu ‘precede’ because this masculine plural takes into account the plural masculine content of the term ‘community’.

Related Hadiths

Sunan Ibn Majah #4028It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:Hasan
“We are the last of the nations, and the first to be brought to account. It will be said: ‘Where is the unlettered nation and its Prophet?’ So we are the last and the first.”
Sahih Muslim #6326Abu Sa'id reported that when Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) came back from Tabuk they (his Companions) asked about the Last Hour. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said:Sahih
There would be none amongst the created beings living on the earth (who would survive this century).
Sunan Ibn Majah #3795It was narrated from Anas bin Malik that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:Sahih
“My nation will pass through five stages. For forty years (they will be) people of righteousness and piety. Then those who follow them, for the next one hundred and twenty years, will be people who show mercy to one another and uphold ties with one another. Then those who follow them for the next one hundred and sixty years will be people who will turn their backs on one another and sever ties with one another. Then there will be Harj after Harj (killing). Seek deliverance, seek deliverance.”
Sunan Ibn Majah #2846It was narrated from ‘Ayyash bin Abu Rabi’ah (Makhzumi) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:Hasan
‘The goodness of this nation will not cease as long as they revere this sanctuary* as it is due. But when they lose that reverence, they will be doomed.”
Sahih al-Bukhari #3467Narrated Jabir bin Samura:Sahih
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "When Khosrau perishes, there will be no more Khosrau a after him, and when Caesar perishes, there will be no more Caesar after him," The Prophet (ﷺ) also said, "You will spend the treasures of both of them in Allah's Cause."

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Related Ayahs

وَٱسْتَعِينُوا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلْخَٰشِعِينَ
And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah]
قُلْنَا ٱهْبِطُوا۟ مِنْهَا جَمِيعًۭا ۖ فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّى هُدًۭى فَمَن تَبِعَ هُدَاىَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
We said, "Go down from it, all of you. And when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.
وَلَن يَتَمَنَّوْهُ أَبَدًۢا بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌۢ بِٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ
But they will never wish for it, ever, because of what their hands have put forth. And Allah is Knowing of the wrongdoers.
وَلَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ءَايَٰتٍۭ بَيِّنَٰتٍۢ ۖ وَمَا يَكْفُرُ بِهَآ إِلَّا ٱلْفَٰسِقُونَ
And We have certainly revealed to you verses [which are] clear proofs, and no one would deny them except the defiantly disobedient.
إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَٰكَ بِٱلْحَقِّ بَشِيرًۭا وَنَذِيرًۭا ۖ وَلَا تُسْـَٔلُ عَنْ أَصْحَٰبِ ٱلْجَحِيمِ
Indeed, We have sent you, [O Muhammad], with the truth as a bringer of good tidings and a warner, and you will not be asked about the companions of Hellfire.
رَبَّنَا وَٱبْعَثْ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًۭا مِّنْهُمْ يَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَٰتِكَ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
Our Lord, and send among them a messenger from themselves who will recite to them Your verses and teach them the Book and wisdom and purify them. Indeed, You are the Exalted in Might, the Wise."

Common Words

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إلا2x
عليهم2x
ولا2x
وٱستعينوا1x
بٱلصبر1x
وٱلصلوة1x
وإنها1x
لكبيرة1x
على1x
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قلنا1x
ٱهبطوا1x
منها1x
جميعا1x
فإما1x
يأتينكم1x
منى1x
هدى1x
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