What does Quran 23:43 mean?

Quran 23:43 (Surah Al-Muminoon, Ayah 43) translates to: "No nation will precede its time [of termination], nor will they remain [thereafter]."

Which Surah and Juz is Quran 23:43 from?

This ayah is from Surah Al-Muminoon (The Believers), the 23th surah of the Quran. It appears in Juz 18.

Are there hadiths related to Quran 23:43?

Yes — there are 5 hadiths related to this ayah from Sunan Ibn Majah, Sahih Muslim, Sahih al-Bukhari.

What tafsir is available for Quran 23:43?

Commentary on this ayah is available from Ibn Kathir, Ibn Kathir, Al-Jalalayn, Ibn Abbas — classical scholars of Quranic exegesis.

What topics does Quran 23:43 relate to?

This ayah connects to these Quranic topics: Divine Decree, Historical Nations, Death, Prophethood, Accountability.

Ayah 42

ثُمَّ أَنشَأْنَا مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ قُرُونًا ءَاخَرِي...

23:43Al-Muminoon

Ayah 44

ثُمَّ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا تَتْرَا ۖ كُلَّ مَا جَ...

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].

Themes in this ayah

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Decree & what is written92

Scores run 0–100: how strongly this ayah speaks to a theme. 70+ is central, 50+ is clear, under 50 is weak.

4 other themes with weak connections

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Decree & what is written

23:43Ayah 1118

2 ayahs in Al-Muminoon are strongly about Allah’s decree. This is one of them.

Next on Decree & what is written →23:62And We charge no soul except [with that within] its capacity, and with Us is a record which speaks with truth; and they will not be wronged.

Tafsir

Scholars offer complementary perspectives

View Full Tafsir: Al-Jalalayn on 23:43→

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’.

“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."