Surah Ar-Room (30) — Ayah 9

(Ayah 9) ➊ {اَوَ لَمْ يَسِيْرُوْا فِي الْاَرْضِ فَيَنْظُرُوْا … :} After mentioning the proofs of the truth of the Hereafter, the evil end of the former nations who denied it has been warned. Because the remnants of these nations were scattered everywhere to the east, west, north, and south of Makkah Mukarramah. Whether it was ‘Ad and Thamud, or the people of Madyan, or the people of Lut, or the people of Saba, or the people of Pharaoh, the people of Makkah used to travel to all these regions for trade. By {’’ الْاَرْضِ ‘‘} is meant Makkah Mukarramah and its surrounding areas, which are mentioned repeatedly in the Qur’an. That is, these people who deny the oneness of Allah, the messengership of His messengers, and the Hereafter—have they not traveled through the land to see how was the end of those who denied before them? The meaning is that surely these people have traveled through the land and have seen everything, but they did not look with the eye of reflection so that they might take a lesson, that those people were much stronger than them in terms of power. Their stature and their physical, financial, and military strength were much greater than theirs, and they broke up the land more than them. Breaking up the land includes agriculture, extracting minerals, and establishing irrigation systems, all of which are included, and they populated the land much more than these people of Makkah have populated it. They built great buildings, factories, and dams for water. Their messengers came to them with clear miracles and proofs, but they denied them, so they became targets of Allah’s punishment, and until now the traces of their towns are telling the tale of their destruction.

➋ { كَانُوْۤا اَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً وَّ اَثَارُوا الْاَرْضَ …:} When Allah Almighty said that the former people were stronger than them and broke up the land and populated it more than they have populated it, in this there is also a rebuke to the disbelievers (the people of Makkah), because the people of Makkah had no comparison with the people of Egypt, the people of Syria, and the people of Yemen in agriculture and land development. In Makkah, there was neither arable land, nor did they break up the land, nor did they have any irrigation system. Whereas Egypt, Syria, and Yemen had reached perfection in agriculture and other fields. So, in calling the people of Makkah also those who develop agriculture and land, and in declaring the former nations more advanced than them, there is a kind of mockery of them, that in comparison to progress, they should consider their own status and see that when such highly developed nations were destroyed for denying their messengers, then what status do these poor people have.

➌ { فَمَا كَانَ اللّٰهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ …:} That is, among all the nations that Allah Almighty destroyed, the common factor was injustice, and the basis of injustice is denial of the Hereafter, because a nation that believes in the Hereafter and feels accountable for its deeds cannot commit injustice. So, if punishment came upon them due to denial of the Hereafter, then Allah did not wrong them, rather it was the result of their own injustice, and if punishment comes upon the people of Makkah as a result of denying their messenger and the Hereafter, then it will also be because of their own injustice.

9-1. This is a reproach for not reflecting on the ruins, remnants, and signs of warning. The meaning is that they have already observed them by traveling around.
9-2. That is, those disbelievers whom Allah destroyed due to their disbelief in Allah, denial of the truth, and rejection of the messengers.
9-3. That is, even more than the Quraysh and the people of Makkah.
9-4. That is, the people of Makkah are unfamiliar with agriculture, but the previous nations surpassed them even in this characteristic.
9-5. Because their lifespans were longer, they were physically stronger, and they had more means of livelihood. Thus, they built more structures, engaged in more agriculture and farming, and had greater resources for sustenance.
9-6. But they did not believe in them. Therefore, despite all their strengths, advancements, and ease and prosperity, destruction was destined for them.
9-7. That He would afflict them with punishment without any sin.
9-8. That is, by denying Allah and rejecting the messengers.

9. Have they not traveled through the land and seen what was the end of those before them? They were stronger than them in power, and they cultivated the earth and developed it more than these have [7]. Their messengers [8] came to them with clear proofs. Allah did not wrong them, but they wronged themselves.

[7] That is, the edifice of oppression is always built upon the foundation of denying the Hereafter. And the common factor among all those oppressive nations whom Allah destroyed was that they were deniers of the Hereafter. Because any person or nation that believes in being accountable before Allah for their deeds in the Hereafter can never commit oppression. Among those destroyed nations, there were people who were much more powerful than you. They were experts in worldly sciences. They had made great progress in the field of agriculture and had extracted treasures from the earth. And in terms of civilization and culture, they were far more advanced than you. But when they became determined upon oppression and excess, Allah utterly destroyed them. Now, O disbelievers of Makkah! If you also choose the same path of rebellion and oppression, then what reason is there that your end should not be the same?
[8] That is, firstly, there were proofs for the necessity of the Hereafter within yourselves, secondly, there were proofs present in the universe, and thirdly, Allah showed mercy upon you by sending messengers who kept warning you about the realities that would occur after death. Yet, if you still become deniers of the Hereafter and ruin your own fate, then the fault lies with you alone. Allah never wrongs or oppresses anyone.