Appendix B: Fate of some Nations who denied their
Messengers
Surah Qamar depicts in the
following words the fate of some nations who deliberately rejected their
Messengers:
[Similarly], before them the folks of Noah [rejected their
Prophet] by declaring Our servant to be a liar and said that he was a mad
man, and he was badly scolded [by them]. At last he cried unto his Lord
saying: I am vanquished, Take revenge from them. So We opened the gates
of heaven with water pouring forth, and caused the earth to burst with
gushing springs. The waters met at the point decreed and We carried him
[---Our servant Noah] on a vessel made of planks and nails, which sailed
under Our protection: a recompense for him who had been snubbed. And We
made this tale a sign [for those who would learn a lesson from it]. So
is there anyone who would take heed [from this]! [You heard this tale!].
Tell Me how [dreadful] was My punishment, how [stern] was My warning? [Will
you also receive admonition like this?]. And, [indeed], We have made the
Qur’an
very appropriate for admonition. Is there any who shall take heed?!! (54:9-17)
[Similarly], the people of Ad rejected the warnings. Then
observe how dreadful was My punishment and how My promised doom [got hold
of them]! On a day of unremitting woe, We had let loose on them a howling
wind which plucked out the people [of Ad from their places] as if they
were uprooted trunks of palm-trees. So tell Me how [dreadful] was My punishment
and how [stern] was My warning. [Will you also receive admonition like
this?]. And We have made the Qur’an very appropriate for admonition.
Is there anyone who shall take heed?!! (54:18-22)

The Thamud also rejected this warning by saying: Are we to
follow a person who stands alone amongst us? If we do so, we shall, [in
fact], be straying [from the right path] and [would eventually] find ourselves
[in the raging fire of] Hell. Did he alone among us receive this Reminder?
Nay, he is indeed a liar, a boaster. [We said:] tomorrow they shall know
who is the liar and [who is] the boaster. We will be sending a she-camel
as a test for them. So wait and see and have patience, and inform them
that the water is to be shared between [her and] them. [Now] everyone shall
come on his turn. At this, they cried out to their leader; so he came forward
and hamstrung her. So observe how My punishment descended upon them and
how My promised doom got hold of them. We sent upon them a single shout
and they became [crushed powder] like the trampled hedge of a sheep-fold
builder. [Will you now also receive admonition like this?]. And We have
made the Qur’an very appropriate for admonition. Is there anyone
who shall take heed?!! (54:23-32)
[Similarly,] the people of Lot rejected this warning. [As
recompense for this crime], We unleashed on them a stone-charged whirlwind;
only the followers of Lot survived, whom, as a special favour, We evacuated
[from that place] before the advent of dawn. Thus do We reward every person
who is thankful. And, indeed, Lot had warned them of Our punishment, but
they only foolishly argued [with him about Our] warnings. And they tempted
him to hand over his guests to them [for a wanton purpose]; so We blinded
their eyes [and said] taste you My wrath and [the terrible consequences
of] My warning. And, indeed, at daybreak, an abiding punishment seized
them. [So now] taste My wrath and [the terrible consequences of] My warning.
[Will these people also receive admonition after tasting My punishment]!
And We have made the Qur’an very appropriate for admonition. Is
there anyone who shall take heed?!! (54:33-41)
And, indeed, to the Pharaoh’s people also came the warnings.
But [in a similar manner], they also rejected all Our signs; so We grasped
them with the grasp of One Mighty, Powerful. (54:42-3)
|