**Mi’shār**: The Arabic word **ʿushr** means **one-tenth**, the well-known fraction.  
This noble verse comes to shatter the arrogance of Quraysh and strip away the illusion created by their wealth, trade, and social status. After inviting them to travel through the land and reflect on the ruins of destroyed nations, the verse declares that they had **not even reached one-tenth** of what Allah had granted the great civilizations before them in strength, prosperity, and magnificent construction. Yet despite all that power, those nations could not protect themselves from Allah’s punishment when they rejected His messengers.  
Quraysh were far weaker than the peoples of ʿĀd, Thamūd, and other ancient nations. They had been given only a small portion of what those civilizations received. So how could they feel secure from Allah’s punishment if they followed the very same path of denial?  
The verb **“reached” (balaghū)** conveys the idea of attaining a certain level. No matter how much power, wealth, commerce, influence, or development Quraysh achieved, they never came close to reaching even one-tenth of what those earlier nations had been given.  
The Qur’an’s choice of the word **mi’shār** instead of the more common **ʿushr** draws attention to just how tiny the proportion was. It is a more powerful expression, emphasizing the insignificance of what Quraysh possessed compared with the mighty civilizations before them. It is as though the Qur’an is saying: *They did not even attain an amount that could be considered one-tenth of what those people were given.*  
This verse is far more than a numerical comparison. It is a wake-up call that strikes at Quraysh’s pride, confronting them with the reality of their weakness before Allah’s supreme power. It also serves as a timeless reminder for every generation: never be deceived by the strength or dominance of nations. Whatever power exists today is insignificant compared with what earlier civilizations were granted, yet even they were destroyed when they denied Allah’s messengers.

A Reminder