Did they not see how many nations We destroyed before them? We had granted them power in the earth which We did not grant you, and We sent heavy rain upon them and caused rivers to flow beneath them. Then, We destroyed them due to their sins,[1] and Webrought forth other nations after them.[2]
Commentary
[1]
Worldly ease, affluence, and many luxuries are not signs of the
pleasure of Allah Almighty. If this was the case, Qārūn would have been a
privileged individual in the court of Allah Almighty. Those who consider
Muslims to be ill-fortuned and instruct them to follow disbelievers after
witnessing the worldly success, scientific developments, resources, inventions,
and abundance of wealth of disbelievers should learn from this. This worldly
success of the disbelievers is not a proof of their acceptance in the court of
Allah Almighty, rather it is simply evidence of respite.
[2]
The verse mentions the end of previous nations. Despite being rich and
powerful, they were destroyed due to disbelief, transgression, and opposing the
commands of the noble prophets. In this, there is advice for the disbelievers in
particular, and for Muslims in general: all must awaken from the sleep of
heedlessness by renouncing disbelief, transgression, and sin, and instead
embrace faith, obedience, and righteous deeds.
