Quran Universe
37:71

وَلَقَدۡ ضَلَّ قَبۡلَهُمۡ أَكۡثَرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ

Walaqad dalla qablahum aktharu alawwaleena

And there had already strayed before them most of the former peoples,

Word by word
  1. وَلَقَدۡAnd verily
  2. ضَلَّwent astray
  3. قَبۡلَهُمۡbefore them
  4. أَكۡثَرُmost
  5. ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ(of) the former (people)
As-Saffat · 37:71Makkah

Most people before them went astray too.

Numbers are not proof

The earlier nations
most of themwent astray
a fewfollowed the warners
What decides truth
the majorityso many cannot be wrong
the messagetrue even with few

Ibn Kathir says Allah tells us that most of the previous nations went astray, worshipping other gods alongside Him. For the small, persecuted group of Muslims in Makkah, this was comfort: being few was nothing new.

You are the only one at the office who does not join in. The only one in the family who prays on time. It feels lonely, and you wonder if you are wrong. Being outnumbered has never decided what is true.

If most people do it, it is probably fine.

Most people have been wrong before. I check the path, not the crowd.

Try this

Think of one good thing you do that few around you do. Keep doing it today, quietly.

Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

And indeed most of the earlier ones went astray before them (71)And indeed We sent among them warners (72)Then see what was the end of those who were warned (73)Except the chosen servants of Allah (74)

Allah tells us that most of the previous nations went astray, worshipping other gods alongside Allah. He states that He sent among them warners to alert them to the anger, wrath and vengeance of Allah towards those who disbelieve in Him and worship others besides Him. He tells us that they persisted in their opposition to their Messengers and their disbelief in them, so He destroyed those who disbelieved in Him and saved the believers and caused them to prevail. Allah says:

فَانْظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُنْذَرِينَ - إِلَّا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ الْمُخْلَصِينَ

(Then see what was the end of those who were warned. Except the chosen servants of Allah).