7. Al-A'raaf

The chiefs of those who disbelieved among his people said (to their people): "If you follow Shu'ayb, be sure then you will be the losers! (90)So the earthquake seized them and they lay (dead), prostrate in their homes (91)Those who belied Shu'ayb, became as if they had never dwelt there (in their homes). Those who belied Shu'ayb, they were the losers (92)

Allah describes the enormity of disbelief, rebellion, transgression and misguidance (of Shu'ayb's people) and the defiance of truth encrypted in their hearts. They vowed, saying,

لَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتُمْ شُعَيْبًا إِنَّكُمْ إِذًا لَّخَاسِرُونَ

("If you follow Shu'ayb, be sure then you will be the losers!") Allah answered them,

فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الرَّجْفَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا فِي دَارِهِمْ جَاثِمِينَ

(So the earthquake seized them and they lay (dead), prostrate in their homes)

Allah said that the earthquake shook them, as punishment for threatening to expel Shu'ayb and his followers. Allah mentioned their end again in Suah Hud,

وَلَمَّا جَاءَ أَمْرُنَا نَجَّيْنَا شُعَيْبًا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ مِّنَّا وَأَخَذَتِ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا الصَّيْحَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا فِي دِيَارِهِمْ جَاثِمِينَ

(And when Our commandment came, We saved Shu'ayb and those who believed with him by a mercy from Us. And the Sayhah (loud cry) seized the wrongdoers, and they lay (dead) prostrate in their homes.)[11:94]

This Ayah mentions the Sayhah (cry) that struck them after they mocked Shu'ayb, saying,

أَصَلَاتُكَ تَأْمُرُكَ

(Does your Salah (prayer) command you...)[11:87] so it was befitting to mention here the cry that made them silence. In Surat Ash-Shu'ara', Allah said,

فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَخَذَهُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمِ الظُّلَّةِ إِنَّهُ كَانَ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ

(But they belied him, so the torment of the Day of Shadow (a gloomy cloud) seized them. Indeed that was the torment of a Great Day)[26:189] because they challenged Shu'ayb,

فَأَسْقِطْ عَلَيْنَا كِسَفًا مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ

("So cause a piece of the heaven to fall on us, if you are of the truthful!")[26:187].

Therefore, Allah stated that each of these forms of punishment struck them on the Day of the Shadow. First,

فَأَخَذَهُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمِ الظُّلَّةِ

(So the torment of the Day of Shadow (a gloomy cloud) seized them)[26:189] when a gloomy cloud came over them (containing) fire, flames and a tremendous light. Next, a cry from the sky descended on them and a tremor shook them from beneath. Consequently, their souls were captured, their lives were taken and their bodies became idle,

فَأَصْبَحُوا فِي دَارِهِمْ جَاثِمِينَ

(and they lay (dead), prostrate in their homes). Allah said next,

كَأَن لَّمْ يَغْنَوْا فِيهَا

(They became as if they had never dwelt there) meaning, after the torment seized them, it looked as if they never dwelled in the land from which they wanted to expel their Messenger Shu'ayb and his followers. Here, Allah refuted their earlier statement,

الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا شُعَيْبًا كَانُوا هُمُ الْخَاسِرِينَ

(Those who belied Shu'ayb, they were the losers.)

The chiefs of those who disbelieved among his people said (to their people): "If you follow Shu'ayb, be sure then you will be the losers! (90)So the earthquake seized them and they lay (dead), prostrate in their homes (91)Those who belied Shu'ayb, became as if they had never dwelt there (in their homes). Those who belied Shu'ayb, they were the losers (92)

Allah describes the enormity of disbelief, rebellion, transgression and misguidance (of Shu'ayb's people) and the defiance of truth encrypted in their hearts. They vowed, saying,

لَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتُمْ شُعَيْبًا إِنَّكُمْ إِذًا لَّخَاسِرُونَ

("If you follow Shu'ayb, be sure then you will be the losers!") Allah answered them,

فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الرَّجْفَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا فِي دَارِهِمْ جَاثِمِينَ

(So the earthquake seized them and they lay (dead), prostrate in their homes)

Allah said that the earthquake shook them, as punishment for threatening to expel Shu'ayb and his followers. Allah mentioned their end again in Suah Hud,

وَلَمَّا جَاءَ أَمْرُنَا نَجَّيْنَا شُعَيْبًا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ مِّنَّا وَأَخَذَتِ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا الصَّيْحَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا فِي دِيَارِهِمْ جَاثِمِينَ

(And when Our commandment came, We saved Shu'ayb and those who believed with him by a mercy from Us. And the Sayhah (loud cry) seized the wrongdoers, and they lay (dead) prostrate in their homes.)[11:94]

This Ayah mentions the Sayhah (cry) that struck them after they mocked Shu'ayb, saying,

أَصَلَاتُكَ تَأْمُرُكَ

(Does your Salah (prayer) command you...)[11:87] so it was befitting to mention here the cry that made them silence. In Surat Ash-Shu'ara', Allah said,

فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَخَذَهُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمِ الظُّلَّةِ إِنَّهُ كَانَ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ

(But they belied him, so the torment of the Day of Shadow (a gloomy cloud) seized them. Indeed that was the torment of a Great Day)[26:189] because they challenged Shu'ayb,

فَأَسْقِطْ عَلَيْنَا كِسَفًا مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ

("So cause a piece of the heaven to fall on us, if you are of the truthful!")[26:187].

Therefore, Allah stated that each of these forms of punishment struck them on the Day of the Shadow. First,

فَأَخَذَهُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمِ الظُّلَّةِ

(So the torment of the Day of Shadow (a gloomy cloud) seized them)[26:189] when a gloomy cloud came over them (containing) fire, flames and a tremendous light. Next, a cry from the sky descended on them and a tremor shook them from beneath. Consequently, their souls were captured, their lives were taken and their bodies became idle,

فَأَصْبَحُوا فِي دَارِهِمْ جَاثِمِينَ

(and they lay (dead), prostrate in their homes). Allah said next,

كَأَن لَّمْ يَغْنَوْا فِيهَا

(They became as if they had never dwelt there) meaning, after the torment seized them, it looked as if they never dwelled in the land from which they wanted to expel their Messenger Shu'ayb and his followers. Here, Allah refuted their earlier statement,

الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا شُعَيْبًا كَانُوا هُمُ الْخَاسِرِينَ

(Those who belied Shu'ayb, they were the losers.)

Then he (Shu'ayb) turned from them and said: "O my people! I have indeed conveyed my Lord's Messages unto you and I have given you good advice. Then how can I grieve over people who are disbelievers. (93)

Prophet Shu'ayb, peace be upon him, turned away from his people after the torment, punishment and destruction struck them, admonishing and censuring them by saying to them,

يَا قَوْمِ لَقَدْ أَبْلَغْتُكُمْ رِسَالَاتِ رَبِّي وَنَصَحْتُ لَكُمْ

("O my people! I have indeed conveyed my Lord's Messages unto you and I have given you good advice.")

Shu'ayb said, I have conveyed to you what I was sent with, so I will not feel any sorrow for you since you disbelieved in what I brought you,

فَكَيْفَ آسَىٰ عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍ كَافِرِينَ

("Then how can I grieve over pepple who are disbelievers?")

And We sent no Prophet unto any town (and they denied him), but We seized its people with Ba'sā' and Ḍarrā', so that they might humble themselves (to Allah)(94)Then We changed the evil for the good, until they 'Afaw (increased), and said: "Our fathers were touched with evil and with good." So We seized them all of a sudden while they were unaware (95)

Afflictions that struck Earlier Nations

Allah mentions the Ba'sā' and Ḍarrā' that struck the earlier nations to whom He sent Prophets. Ba'sā', refers to the physical sicknesses and ailments that they suffered, while Ḍarrā', refers to the poverty and humiliation that they experienced,

لَعَلَّهُمْ يَضَّرَّعُونَ

(so that they might humble themselves) supplicate, humble themselves and invoke Allah, that He might remove the afflictions that they suffered from. This Ayah indicates that Allah sent down severe afflictions to them so that they might invoke Him, but they did not do what He ordered them. Therefore, He changed the affliction into prosperity to test them,

ثُمَّ بَدَّلْنَا مَكَانَ السَّيِّئَةِ الْحَسَنَةَ

(Then We changed the evil for the good,)

Therefore, Allah changed the hardship into prosperity, disease and sickness into health and well-being, and poverty into richness in provision, so that they might be thankful to Allah for this, but they did none of that. Allah's statement,

حَتَّىٰ عَفَوا

(until they 'Afaw) refers to increase in numbers, wealth and offspring. Allah said next,

وَّقَالُوا قَدْ مَسَّ آبَاءَنَا الضَّرَّاءُ وَالسَّرَّاءُ فَأَخَذْنَاهُم بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ

(...and they said: "Our fathers were touched with evil and with good." So We seized them all of a sudden while they were unaware.)

He tested them with this (afflictions) and that (ease and abundance) so that they may humble themselves and repent to Him. However, they failed both tests, for neither this nor that compelled them to change their ways. They said, "We suffered Ba'sā' and Ḍarrā', but prosperity came afterwards, just as like our forefathers in earlier times." "Therefore," they said, "it is a cycle where we sometimes suffer a hardship and at other times, we enjoy a bounty."

However, they did not comprehend Allah's wisdom, nor the fact that He is testing them in both cases. To the contrary, the believers are grateful to Allah in good times and practice patience in hard times. In the Sahih, there is a Hadith that says;

عَجَبًا لِلْمُؤْمِنِ لَا يَقْضِي اللهُ لَهُ قَضَاءً إِلَّا كَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ، وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ ضَرَّاءُ صَبَرَ فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ، وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ سَرَّاءُ شَكَرَ فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ

(The matter of the believer is amazing, for nothing that Allah decrees for him, but it is better for him. If a Ḍarrā' (harm) strikes him, he is patient, and this is better for him, if he is given Sarra' (prosperity), he thanks (Allah) for it and this is better for him.)

The believer, therefore, is aware of the test behind the afflictions whether it may be prosperity or adversity that Allah sends to him, as well as the blessings. Similarly, in another Hadith,

لَايَزَالُ الْبَلَاءُ بِالْمُؤْمِنِ حَتَّى يَخْرُجَ نَقِيًّا مِنْ ذُنُوبِهِ، وَالْمُنَافِق مِثْله كَمَثَلِ الْحِمَارِ لَا …

And if the people of the towns had believed and had Taqwa, certainly, We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth, but they belied (the Messengers). So We took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn (96)Did the people of the towns then feel secure against the coming of Our punishment by night while they were asleep (97)Or, did the people of the towns then feel secure against the coming of Our punishment in the forenoon while they were playing (98)Did they then feel secure against Allah's plan? None feels secure from Allah's plan except the people who are the losers (99)

Blessings come with Faith, while Kufr brings Torment

Allah mentions here the little faith of the people of the towns to whom He sent Messengers. In another instance, Allah said,

فَلَوْلَا كَانَتْ قَرْيَةٌ آمَنَتْ فَنَفَعَهَا إِيمَانُهَا إِلَّا قَوْمَ يُونُسَ لَمَّا آمَنُوا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمْ عَذَابَ الْخِزْيِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَتَّعْنَاهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ

(Was there any town (community) that believed (after seeing the punishment), and its faith (at that moment) saved it (from the punishment)? Except the people of Yunus; when they believed, We removed from them the torment of disgrace in the life of the (present) world, and permitted them to enjoy for a while.)[10:98]

This Ayah indicates that no city believed in its entirety, except the city of Prophet Yunus, for they all believed after they were stricken by punishment. Allah said (about Prophet Yunus),

وَأَرْسَلْنَاهُ إِلَىٰ مِائَةِ أَلْفٍ أَوْ يَزِيدُونَ - فَآمَنُوا فَمَتَّعْنَاهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ

(And We sent him to a hundred thousand (people) or even more. And they believed; so We gave them enjoyment for a while.)[37:147-148] Allah said in another Ayah,

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا فِي قَرْيَةٍ مِّن نَّذِيرٍ

(And We did not send a warner to a township....)[34:34] Allah said here,

وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ الْقُرَىٰ آمَنُوا وَاتَّقَوْا

(And if the people of the towns had believed and had Taqwa...) meaning their hearts had faith in what the Messenger brought them, believed and obeyed him, and had Taqwa by performing the acts of obedience and abstaining from the prohibitions,

لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِم بَرَكَاتٍ مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ

(We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth,) in reference to the rain that falls from the sky and the vegetation of the earth. Allah said,

وَلَٰكِن كَذَّبُوا فَأَخَذْنَاهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ

(but they belied (the Messengers). So We took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn.)

They denied their Messengers, so that We punished them and sent destruction on them as a result of the sins and wickedness that they earned. Allah then said, while warning and threatening against defying His orders and daring to commit His prohibitions,

أَفَأَمِنَ أَهْلُ الْقُرَىٰ

(Did the people of the towns then feel secure),meaning the disbelievers among them,

أَن يَأْتِيَهُم بَأْسُنَا

(that should come to them our punishment), Our torment and punishing example,

بَيَاتًا

('Bayātan') during the night,

وَهُمْ نَائِمُونَ - أَوَأَمِنَ أَهْلُ الْقُرَىٰ أَن يَأْتِيَهُم بَأْسُنَا ضُحًى وَهُمْ يَلْعَبُونَ

(while they were …

And if the people of the towns had believed and had Taqwa, certainly, We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth, but they belied (the Messengers). So We took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn (96)Did the people of the towns then feel secure against the coming of Our punishment by night while they were asleep (97)Or, did the people of the towns then feel secure against the coming of Our punishment in the forenoon while they were playing (98)Did they then feel secure against Allah's plan? None feels secure from Allah's plan except the people who are the losers (99)

Blessings come with Faith, while Kufr brings Torment

Allah mentions here the little faith of the people of the towns to whom He sent Messengers. In another instance, Allah said,

فَلَوْلَا كَانَتْ قَرْيَةٌ آمَنَتْ فَنَفَعَهَا إِيمَانُهَا إِلَّا قَوْمَ يُونُسَ لَمَّا آمَنُوا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمْ عَذَابَ الْخِزْيِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَتَّعْنَاهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ

(Was there any town (community) that believed (after seeing the punishment), and its faith (at that moment) saved it (from the punishment)? Except the people of Yunus; when they believed, We removed from them the torment of disgrace in the life of the (present) world, and permitted them to enjoy for a while.)[10:98]

This Ayah indicates that no city believed in its entirety, except the city of Prophet Yunus, for they all believed after they were stricken by punishment. Allah said (about Prophet Yunus),

وَأَرْسَلْنَاهُ إِلَىٰ مِائَةِ أَلْفٍ أَوْ يَزِيدُونَ - فَآمَنُوا فَمَتَّعْنَاهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ

(And We sent him to a hundred thousand (people) or even more. And they believed; so We gave them enjoyment for a while.)[37:147-148] Allah said in another Ayah,

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا فِي قَرْيَةٍ مِّن نَّذِيرٍ

(And We did not send a warner to a township....)[34:34] Allah said here,

وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ الْقُرَىٰ آمَنُوا وَاتَّقَوْا

(And if the people of the towns had believed and had Taqwa...) meaning their hearts had faith in what the Messenger brought them, believed and obeyed him, and had Taqwa by performing the acts of obedience and abstaining from the prohibitions,

لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِم بَرَكَاتٍ مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ

(We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth,) in reference to the rain that falls from the sky and the vegetation of the earth. Allah said,

وَلَٰكِن كَذَّبُوا فَأَخَذْنَاهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ

(but they belied (the Messengers). So We took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn.)

They denied their Messengers, so that We punished them and sent destruction on them as a result of the sins and wickedness that they earned. Allah then said, while warning and threatening against defying His orders and daring to commit His prohibitions,

أَفَأَمِنَ أَهْلُ الْقُرَىٰ

(Did the people of the towns then feel secure),meaning the disbelievers among them,

أَن يَأْتِيَهُم بَأْسُنَا

(that should come to them our punishment), Our torment and punishing example,

بَيَاتًا

('Bayātan') during the night,

وَهُمْ نَائِمُونَ - أَوَأَمِنَ أَهْلُ الْقُرَىٰ أَن يَأْتِيَهُم بَأْسُنَا ضُحًى وَهُمْ يَلْعَبُونَ

(while they were …

And if the people of the towns had believed and had Taqwa, certainly, We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth, but they belied (the Messengers). So We took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn (96)Did the people of the towns then feel secure against the coming of Our punishment by night while they were asleep (97)Or, did the people of the towns then feel secure against the coming of Our punishment in the forenoon while they were playing (98)Did they then feel secure against Allah's plan? None feels secure from Allah's plan except the people who are the losers (99)

Blessings come with Faith, while Kufr brings Torment

Allah mentions here the little faith of the people of the towns to whom He sent Messengers. In another instance, Allah said,

فَلَوْلَا كَانَتْ قَرْيَةٌ آمَنَتْ فَنَفَعَهَا إِيمَانُهَا إِلَّا قَوْمَ يُونُسَ لَمَّا آمَنُوا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمْ عَذَابَ الْخِزْيِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَتَّعْنَاهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ

(Was there any town (community) that believed (after seeing the punishment), and its faith (at that moment) saved it (from the punishment)? Except the people of Yunus; when they believed, We removed from them the torment of disgrace in the life of the (present) world, and permitted them to enjoy for a while.)[10:98]

This Ayah indicates that no city believed in its entirety, except the city of Prophet Yunus, for they all believed after they were stricken by punishment. Allah said (about Prophet Yunus),

وَأَرْسَلْنَاهُ إِلَىٰ مِائَةِ أَلْفٍ أَوْ يَزِيدُونَ - فَآمَنُوا فَمَتَّعْنَاهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ

(And We sent him to a hundred thousand (people) or even more. And they believed; so We gave them enjoyment for a while.)[37:147-148] Allah said in another Ayah,

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا فِي قَرْيَةٍ مِّن نَّذِيرٍ

(And We did not send a warner to a township....)[34:34] Allah said here,

وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ الْقُرَىٰ آمَنُوا وَاتَّقَوْا

(And if the people of the towns had believed and had Taqwa...) meaning their hearts had faith in what the Messenger brought them, believed and obeyed him, and had Taqwa by performing the acts of obedience and abstaining from the prohibitions,

لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِم بَرَكَاتٍ مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ

(We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth,) in reference to the rain that falls from the sky and the vegetation of the earth. Allah said,

وَلَٰكِن كَذَّبُوا فَأَخَذْنَاهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ

(but they belied (the Messengers). So We took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn.)

They denied their Messengers, so that We punished them and sent destruction on them as a result of the sins and wickedness that they earned. Allah then said, while warning and threatening against defying His orders and daring to commit His prohibitions,

أَفَأَمِنَ أَهْلُ الْقُرَىٰ

(Did the people of the towns then feel secure),meaning the disbelievers among them,

أَن يَأْتِيَهُم بَأْسُنَا

(that should come to them our punishment), Our torment and punishing example,

بَيَاتًا

('Bayātan') during the night,

وَهُمْ نَائِمُونَ - أَوَأَمِنَ أَهْلُ الْقُرَىٰ أَن يَأْتِيَهُم بَأْسُنَا ضُحًى وَهُمْ يَلْعَبُونَ

(while they were …

And if the people of the towns had believed and had Taqwa, certainly, We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth, but they belied (the Messengers). So We took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn (96)Did the people of the towns then feel secure against the coming of Our punishment by night while they were asleep (97)Or, did the people of the towns then feel secure against the coming of Our punishment in the forenoon while they were playing (98)Did they then feel secure against Allah's plan? None feels secure from Allah's plan except the people who are the losers (99)

Blessings come with Faith, while Kufr brings Torment

Allah mentions here the little faith of the people of the towns to whom He sent Messengers. In another instance, Allah said,

فَلَوْلَا كَانَتْ قَرْيَةٌ آمَنَتْ فَنَفَعَهَا إِيمَانُهَا إِلَّا قَوْمَ يُونُسَ لَمَّا آمَنُوا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمْ عَذَابَ الْخِزْيِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَتَّعْنَاهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ

(Was there any town (community) that believed (after seeing the punishment), and its faith (at that moment) saved it (from the punishment)? Except the people of Yunus; when they believed, We removed from them the torment of disgrace in the life of the (present) world, and permitted them to enjoy for a while.)[10:98]

This Ayah indicates that no city believed in its entirety, except the city of Prophet Yunus, for they all believed after they were stricken by punishment. Allah said (about Prophet Yunus),

وَأَرْسَلْنَاهُ إِلَىٰ مِائَةِ أَلْفٍ أَوْ يَزِيدُونَ - فَآمَنُوا فَمَتَّعْنَاهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ

(And We sent him to a hundred thousand (people) or even more. And they believed; so We gave them enjoyment for a while.)[37:147-148] Allah said in another Ayah,

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا فِي قَرْيَةٍ مِّن نَّذِيرٍ

(And We did not send a warner to a township....)[34:34] Allah said here,

وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ الْقُرَىٰ آمَنُوا وَاتَّقَوْا

(And if the people of the towns had believed and had Taqwa...) meaning their hearts had faith in what the Messenger brought them, believed and obeyed him, and had Taqwa by performing the acts of obedience and abstaining from the prohibitions,

لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِم بَرَكَاتٍ مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ

(We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth,) in reference to the rain that falls from the sky and the vegetation of the earth. Allah said,

وَلَٰكِن كَذَّبُوا فَأَخَذْنَاهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ

(but they belied (the Messengers). So We took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn.)

They denied their Messengers, so that We punished them and sent destruction on them as a result of the sins and wickedness that they earned. Allah then said, while warning and threatening against defying His orders and daring to commit His prohibitions,

أَفَأَمِنَ أَهْلُ الْقُرَىٰ

(Did the people of the towns then feel secure),meaning the disbelievers among them,

أَن يَأْتِيَهُم بَأْسُنَا

(that should come to them our punishment), Our torment and punishing example,

بَيَاتًا

('Bayātan') during the night,

وَهُمْ نَائِمُونَ - أَوَأَمِنَ أَهْلُ الْقُرَىٰ أَن يَأْتِيَهُم بَأْسُنَا ضُحًى وَهُمْ يَلْعَبُونَ

(while they were …

Is it not a guidance for those who inherit the earth from its previons inhabitants that had We willed, We would have punished them for their sins. And We seal up their hearts so that they hear not (100)

Ibn 'Abbas commented on Allah's statement,

أَوَلَمْ يَهْدِ لِلَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ الْأَرْضَ مِن بَعْدِ أَهْلِهَا

(Is it not a guidance for those who inherit the earth from its previous inhabitants...)

"(Allah says,) did We not make clear to them that had We willed, We would have punished them because of their sins?" Mujahid and several others said similarly. Abu Ja'far bin Jarir At-Tabari explained this Ayah, "Allah says, 'Did We not make clear to those who succeeded on the earth after destroying the previous nations who used to dwell in that land. Then they followed their own ways, and behaved as they did and were unruly with their Lord. [Did We not make clear to them] that,

أَن لَّوْ نَشَاءُ أَصَبْنَاهُم بِذُنُوبِهِمْ

(that had We willed, We would have punished them for their sins.) by bringing them the same end that was decreed for those before them,

وَنَطْبَعُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ

(And We seal up their hearts), We place a cover over their heart,

فَهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ

(so that they hear not), words of advice or reminding?'" I say that similarly, Allah said,

أَفَلَمْ يَهْدِ لَهُمْ كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّنَ الْقُرُونِ يَمْشُونَ فِي مَسَاكِنِهِمْ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّأُولِي النُّهَىٰ

(Is it not a guidance for them: how many generations We have destroyed before them, in whose dwellings they walk? Verily, in this are signs indeed for men of understanding.)[20:128]

أَوَلَمْ يَهْدِ لَهُمْ كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّنَ الْقُرُونِ يَمْشُونَ فِي مَسَاكِنِهِمْ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ أَفَلَا يَسْمَعُونَ

(Is it not a guidance for them: how many generations We have destroyed before them in whose dwellings they do walk about? Verily, therein indeed are signs. Would they not then listen)[32:26] and,

أَوَلَمْ تَكُونُوا أَقْسَمْتُم مِّن قَبْلُ مَا لَكُم مِّن زَوَالٍ - وَسَكَنتُمْ فِي مَسَاكِنِ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ

(Had you not sworn aforetime that you would not leave (the world for the Hereafter). And you dwelt in the dwellings of men who wronged themselves)[14:44-45] Also, Allah said,

وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّن قَرْنٍ هَلْ تُحِسُّ مِنْهُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ أَوْ تَسْمَعُ لَهُمْ رِكْزًا

(And how many a generation before them have We destroyed! Can you find a single one of them or hear even a whisper of them?)[19:98] meaning, do you see any of them or hear their voices There are many other Ayat that testify that Allah's torment strikes His enemies, while His bounty reaches His faithful believers.

Thereafter comes Allah's statement, and He is the Most Truthful, the Lord of all that exists,