44:37
What! Are they better than the people of Tubba and those who were before them? We
destroyed them because they were guilty of sin.
In Qurʾānic interpretation, the term Tubbaʿ refers to the title used by a succession of Ḥimyarite rulers who governed parts of southern Arabia for several centuries. Historical accounts indicate that these rulers controlled regions of Yemen until their authority declined following conflicts with Abyssinian forces in the fourth century CE. Some commentators also suggest that the title Tubbaʿ may have been used by the people of Sheba to designate their kings (as discussed in classical commentary attributed to Ibn Kathir).
The people of Tubbaʿ are mentioned in the Qur’an as among communities that rejected the messages brought by prophets and denied the reality of resurrection (Qurʾān 50:14). Some scholars interpret Tubbaʿ as referring to a righteous king who called his people to worship God, though they ultimately rejected his message. Within this interpretation, the king himself is viewed more favorably than his people. A reported statement attributed to Muhammad indicates uncertainty about whether Tubbaʿ himself should be considered a prophet, as the Prophet reportedly said that he did not know whether Tubbaʿ held prophetic status.
Classical commentators note that the people associated with Tubbaʿ were materially strong and politically powerful, even more so than the tribe of Quraysh. Nevertheless, their destruction is presented in Qurʾānic narrative as a consequence of their disbelief. This example functions similarly to other Qurʾānic references to earlier nations that possessed great power or prosperity but were ultimately destroyed because of wrongdoing or rejection of divine guidance. Comparable examples appear in passages such as Qurʾān 6:6, 7:4, 17:17, 19:74, 21:11, 22:45, 28:58, 38:3, 47:13, and 50:36, where previous communities are described as having greater worldly strength than later peoples but nevertheless facing destruction due to their actions.
References:
Nasr, Hossein (2015). Study Quran.