Surah Ibrahim (14) — Ayah 28

(Ayah29,28) ➊ { اَلَمْ تَرَ اِلَى الَّذِيْنَ بَدَّلُوْا …:’’ الْبَوَارِ ‘‘} This is the masdar (verbal noun) of {’’بَارَ يَبُوْرُ‘‘ }, meaning: {’’ فَرْطُ الْكَسَادِ‘‘}, that is, to be extremely worthless and valueless, then it began to be used in the sense of destruction. (Raghib)
➋ The blessing of existence was given to man first of all for free, and instead of showing gratitude for it by obeying his Creator, he responded with disbelief, that is, ingratitude and denial of His existence or obedience and worship. And the person who enjoyed the most leadership and blessings led his people even more astray and brought them to Hell. In this sense, the verse is general, but according to the context and the commentators, here it refers to the disbelievers of Quraysh, whom Allah Almighty created in the lineage of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and made them the custodians of His sacred house. He provided them with security, peace, and every fruit and blessing of the world. In return, instead of monotheism and obedience to Allah, they placed three hundred and sixty idols in and around the Ka'bah and led their people into the house of destruction. He said: «{ اَوَ لَمْ نُمَكِّنْ لَّهُمْ حَرَمًا اٰمِنًا يُّجْبٰۤى اِلَيْهِ ثَمَرٰتُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ } » [ القصص : ۵۷ ] "And did We not establish for them a secure sanctuary, to which are brought fruits of all kinds " And see Surah Quraysh. Then, by sending the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) among them, He gave them the opportunity to attain leadership in this world and the Hereafter, but instead of believing in him and obeying him, they chose disbelief and inflicted every harm upon him, even planning to kill him in the sanctuary. As a result, their followers faced humiliation and destruction in this world through wars, especially Badr and others, and finally in the form of the conquest of Makkah. Severe famine and the cessation of caravans to Makkah cut off their income, and they were surrounded by hunger and fear, and in the Hereafter, they faced the destruction of entering Hell. Thus, it is said: «{ وَ ضَرَبَ اللّٰهُ مَثَلًا قَرْيَةً كَانَتْ اٰمِنَةً مُّطْمَىِٕنَّةً يَّاْتِيْهَا رِزْقُهَا رَغَدًا مِّنْ كُلِّ مَكَانٍ فَكَفَرَتْ بِاَنْعُمِ اللّٰهِ فَاَذَاقَهَا اللّٰهُ لِبَاسَ الْجُوْعِ وَ الْخَوْفِ بِمَا كَانُوْا يَصْنَعُوْنَ (112) وَ لَقَدْ جَآءَهُمْ رَسُوْلٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَكَذَّبُوْهُ فَاَخَذَهُمُ الْعَذَابُ وَ هُمْ ظٰلِمُوْنَ }» [ النحل : ۱۱۲، ۱۱۳ ] "And Allah presents the example of a city which was secure and at ease, its provision coming to it in abundance from every place, but it denied the favors of Allah, so Allah made it taste the garb of hunger and fear for what they used to do. And certainly, a Messenger from among themselves came to them, but they denied him, so the punishment seized them while they were wrongdoers."
➌ {اَلَمْ تَرَ:} Although its primary addressee is the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), every person who is capable of being addressed is included. Allah Almighty, with this word, has expressed amazement at man's—especially the disbelievers of Quraysh's— ingratitude and disbelief in response to His blessings.

28. 1. Its explanation is in Sahih Bukhari that by this is meant the disbelievers of Makkah, who, by denying the Prophethood of Muhammad ﷺ and by fighting the Muslims in the Battle of Badr, caused their own people to be destroyed. However, in terms of its meaning, it is general, and the meaning will be that Allah sent Muhammad ﷺ as a mercy to the worlds and as a divine blessing for the people. So whoever valued this blessing, accepted it, expressed gratitude, he became of Paradise; and whoever rejected this blessing and persisted in disbelief, he was declared of Hell.

28. Have you not considered the case [36] of those who exchanged the favor of Allah (faith) for disbelief and led their people to the house of ruin,

[36] By these people are meant the polytheist Qurayshi chiefs who at that time held the reins of all Arabia. These people were the custodians of the House of Allah, and because of this custodianship, they were respected throughout Arabia. Allah sent youﷺ for their guidance and revealed the Quran. This was Allah’s second great favor upon them. But these people responded to Allah’s blessings with stubbornness and hostility. They girded themselves for opposition to the truth. Then they continued to increase in this opposition until they themselves were destroyed and left their nation destroyed as well, and after death, they themselves will be consigned to Hell and will also drag their followers down with them.