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Surah: Ad-Dukhan (37)
The People of Tubba — Yemen and Its Believing King Who Believed Before the Mission
أَهُمۡ خَيۡرٌ أَمۡ قَوۡمُ تُبَّعٖ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَٰهُمۡ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ مُجۡرِمِينَ
— الدخان الآية 37
Quranic context: Ad-Dukhan 37 / Qaf 14
The verses: "Are they better or the people of Tubba?" (Ad-Dukhan: 37) — a rhetorical question: should they not fear being destroyed as the people of Tubba were?
Who was Tubba? A title for ancient Yemeni kings, just as "Pharaoh" was a title for Egyptian kings. The one referenced here was a king of the Himyar who believed in Allah and in the prophethood of the Prophet before his mission.
The Prophet said: "Do not revile Tubba for he accepted Islam" — narrated by Ahmad and Al-Tabarani; Al-Haythami said: its narrators are trustworthy.
His story: Tubba passed by Madinah and intended to fight its people, but the Jewish scholars who knew it would become the city of emigration of the last prophet stopped him. He refrained and believed what they told him. He also clothed the Kaaba according to one narration.
Lesson:
The verses: "Are they better or the people of Tubba?" (Ad-Dukhan: 37) — a rhetorical question: should they not fear being destroyed as the people of Tubba were?
Who was Tubba? A title for ancient Yemeni kings, just as "Pharaoh" was a title for Egyptian kings. The one referenced here was a king of the Himyar who believed in Allah and in the prophethood of the Prophet before his mission.
The Prophet said: "Do not revile Tubba for he accepted Islam" — narrated by Ahmad and Al-Tabarani; Al-Haythami said: its narrators are trustworthy.
His story: Tubba passed by Madinah and intended to fight its people, but the Jewish scholars who knew it would become the city of emigration of the last prophet stopped him. He refrained and believed what they told him. He also clothed the Kaaba according to one narration.
Lesson:
- His belief before the mission proves the truth was known among honest people of the scriptures
- His people denied and were destroyed — a believing king does not save his disbelieving people
- "Do not revile Tubba" — it is not permitted to revile one who accepted Islam even from earlier nations
Source: Ibn Kathir (7/249); Musnad Ahmad (3/468); Al-Tabari (25/112)
Test Yourself
What is the reason behind the prophetic prohibition of reviling Tubba, and what evidence indicates his belief according to narrations?
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