In the Quranic worldview, a 'Generation' (Arabic: قَرْن, qarn) is not merely a measure of time but a significant unit of collective moral and spiritual accountability. According to search-discovered classical scholarship, particularly the tafsir of Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the Quran uses the stories of past generations (qurun) as powerful divine lessons. These narratives consistently depict a cycle where a generation is established on earth with power and resources (6:6), receives divine guidance through a messenger, and then faces consequences based on its collective response. The term 'qarn' is often associated with generations that were destroyed for their sins, serving as a stark warning to all subsequent peoples. This contrasts with 'dhurriyyah' (ذُرِّيَّة), which refers to progeny and lineage, often in the context of prayers for righteous succession. The Quran's focus on generations underscores a core principle: the rise and fall of civilizations are not random but are governed by a divine sunnah (unchanging way) based on justice and accountability.