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ʾa-wa-lam yasīrū fī l-ʾarḍi fa-yanẓurū kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu lladhīna kānū min qablihim kānū hum ʾashadda minhum quwwatan wa-ʾāthāran fī l-ʾarḍi fa-ʾakhadhahumu llāhu bi-dhunūbihim wa-mā kāna lahum mina llāhi min wāqin
Have they not travelled through the land so that they may observe how was the fate of those who were before them? They were greater than them in might and with respect to the effects [they left] in the land. But then Allah seized them for their sins, and they had no defender against Allah [’s punishment].
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah al-Ghafir - Verse 21
21. Have they not traveled in the land and seen what was the end of those who were before them? They were superior to them in strength and in the traces in the land. But Allah seized them with chastisement [out of His Wrath] for their sins. And none had they to protect them from Allah [’s Wrath].
Man is supposed to take lessons from history rather than take pride in his power and traces in the land. It is needless to say that preservation of the monuments of ancient generations will be required for generations to take lessons. Disbelievers’ opposition to the Noble Prophet of Islam (S) was due to their vanity for their power. Thus the Holy Qur’an says:
The blessed Verse in question raises a question:
This living history reminds men of the wrong doers’ ruins of palaces, the disaster stricken cities of the rebellious, the rotten bones of those asleep in dust, and the palaces buried in the earth. All these decisive words depict a true picture of the genuine history of ancient peoples. Thus the Verse proceeds:
The phrase:
indicates their political, military, economic, and possibly their scientific and technological power. The phrase:
may demonstrate their great agricultural developments as it is attested elsewhere in the Holy Qur’an:
It may also make a reference to well founded and solid constructions by a number of ancient peoples in mountains and plains as it is reflected elsewhere in the Holy Qur’an regarding the people of ‘Ad:
The dire fate of the rebellious people is expressed briefly:
Neither their large number nor their power, nor glory, nor immense worldly possessions could impede Divine Chastisement. The word:
is recurrently employed in the Holy Qur’an in the sense of “chastise” since in order to inflict a severe punishment, the perpetrator is first seized and then they will be chastised.
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