Surah Al-Anbiyaa
Chapter 21 · Verse 95 · Revealed in Makkah
“And there is prohibition upon [the people of] a city which We have destroyed that they will [ever] return”
Translation: Saheeh International
Listen to recitation
Mishary Rashid Alafasy
Reflection — Ibn Kathir
Those who have been destroyed, will never return to this World.
وَحَرَامٌ عَلَى قَرْيَةٍ
(And a ban is laid on every town) Ibn `Abbas said, "it is enforced", i.e., it has been decreed that the people of each township that has been destroyed will never return to this world before the Day of Resurrection, as is reported clearly through other narrations from Ibn `Abbas, Abu Ja`far Al-Baqir, Qatadah and others.
Reflection — Maarif ul Quran
وَحَرَامٌ عَلَىٰ قَرْيَةٍ أَهْلَكْنَاهَا أَنَّهُمْ لَا يَرْجِعُونَ (It is banned for (the people of) a town We destroyed that they come back - 21:95.) Commentators have given two different meanings to this verse. One, that the town and its people which Allah Ta` ala has destroyed cannot come back to life. The second explanation is that it is binding on the town which Allah has destroyed that it shall not return to this world. (Qurtubl) Thus the meaning of the verse is that the door of repentance is closed after death, and it is no more possible for someone to return to this world and atone for his sins by performing righteous deeds. The final court will take place on the Day of Judgment.
What does this verse bring up for you today?