Many Nations were destroyed and in Them is a Lesson Allah, the Exalted, says, أَفَلَمْ يَهْدِ Is it not a guidance for them... This is addressed to those who reject what the Prophet came to them with: لَهُمْ كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّنَ الْقُرُونِ يَمْشُونَ فِي مَسَاكِنِهِمْ (to know) how many generations We have destroyed before them, in whose dwellings they walk! `We destroyed those who denied the Messengers from the previous nations before them. They showed open hostility, so now there is not trace of them and none of them are left. This is witnessed by the empty homes that these people left behind, and which others have now inherited, moving about in the dwellings of those of the past.' إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَايَاتٍ لاُِّوْلِي النُّهَى Verily, in this are signs indeed for men of understanding. This means those who have sound intellect and correct understanding. This is as Allah says, أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُواْ فِى الاٌّرْضِ فَتَكُونَ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌ يَعْقِلُونَ بِهَأ أَوْ ءَاذَانٌ يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَعْمَى الاٌّبْصَـرُ وَلَـكِن تَعْمَى الْقُلُوبُ الَّتِى فِى الصُّدُورِ Have they not traveled through the land, and have they hearts wherewith to understand and ears wherewith to hear! Verily, it is not the eyes that grow blind, but it is the hearts which are in the breasts that grow blind. (22:46) Allah also said in Surah Alif Lam Mim As-Sajdah, أَوَلَمْ يَهْدِ لَهُمْ كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَبْلِهِمْ مِّنَ الْقُرُونِ يَمْشُونَ فِى مَسَاكِنِهِمْ Is it not a guidance for them:how many generations We have destroyed before them in whose dwellings they walk about. (32:26) Then, Allah, the Exalted, says, وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةٌ سَبَقَتْ مِن رَّبِّكَ لَكَانَ لِزَامًا وَأَجَلٌ مُسَمًّى And had it not been for a Word that went forth before from your Lord, and a term determined (their punishment), must necessarily have come (in this world). This means that if it were not for the Word that had already preceded from Allah -- that He would not punish anyone until the proof had been established against him and the punishment would take place at an appointed time that He has already determined for these rejecters -- then the punishment would certainly seize them immediately. The Command to be patient and perform the Five daily Prayers Allah comforts His Prophet by saying to him فَاصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا يَقُولُونَ So bear patiently what they say, This means, Be patient concerning their rejection of you. وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ And glorify the praises of your Lord before the rising of the sun, This is speaking of the Morning (Fajr) prayer. وَقَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا and before its setting, This is speaking of the Mid-afternoon (`Asr) prayer. This has been mentioned in the Two Sahihs on the authority of Jarir bin Abdullah Al-Bajali, who said, Once we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah when he looked up at the moon on a night when it was full. He said, إِنَّكُمْ سَتَرَوْنَ رَبَّكُمْ كَمَا تَرَوْنَ هَذَا الْقَمَرَ لَا تُضَامُونَ فِي رُوْيَتِهِ فَإِنِ اسْتَطَعْتُمْ أَنْ لَا تُغْلَبُوا عَلَى صَلَةٍ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا فَافْعَلُوا Verily, you all will see your Lord (in the Hereafter) just as you see this moon and you will not have to crowd together to see Him. Therefore, if you are able to not miss a prayer before sunrise (Fajr) and before sunset (`Asr), then you should do so. Then he recited this Ayah. Imam Ahmad recorded that `Umarah bin Ru'aybah that he heard the Messenger of Allah saying, لَنْ يَلِجَ النَّارَ أَحَدٌ صَلَّى قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا Anyone who prays before sunrise and before sunset will never enter the Hellfire. This was also recorded by Muslim. Concerning Allah's statement, وَمِنْ انَاء اللَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْ and during some hours of the night, glorify the praises. This means during its hours offer the late night (Tahajjud) prayer. Some of the scholars said it also means the after sunset (Maghrib) and the night (`Isha') prayers. . وَأَطْرَافَ النَّهَارِ and at the ends of the day, This is the opposite of the hours of the night. لَعَلَّكَ تَرْضَى that you may become pleased. As Allah says, وَلَسَوْفَ يُعْطِيكَ رَبُّكَ فَتَرْضَى And verily, your Lord will give you (all good) so that you shall be well-pleased. (93:5) In the Sahih, it is recorded that the Messenger of Allah said, يَقُولُ اللهُ تَعَالَى يَاأَهْلَ الْجَنَّةِ فَيَقُولُونَ لَبَّيْكَ رَبَّنَا وَسَعْدَيْكَ فَيَقُولُ هَلْ رَضِيتُمْ فَيَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا وَمَا لَنَا لَا نَرْضَى وَقَدْ أَعْطَيْتَنَا مَا لَمْ تُعْطِ أَحَدًا مِنْ خَلْقِكَ فَيَقُولُ إِنِّي أُعْطِيكُمْ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَيَقُولُونَ وَأَيُّ شَيْءٍ أَفْضَلُ مِنْنَذلِكَ فَيَقُولُ أَحِلُّ عَلَيْكُمْ رِضْوَانِي فَلَ أَسْخَطُ عَلَيْكُمْ بَعْدَهُ أَبَدًا Allah, the Exalted, says, O people of Paradise. They will reply, We are here at Your service and Your pleasure our Lord. He will then say, Are you all pleased? They will reply, Why should we not be pleased our Lord, when You have given us what You have not given any others of Your creation. Allah will then say, Verily, I am going to give you something better than that. They will say, And what thing could be better than that? Allah will say, I have allowed for you My pleasure, so I will never be angry with you again after this. In another Hadith, it states that it will be said, يَا أَهْلَ الْجَنَّةِ إِنَّ لَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللهِ مَوْعِدًا يُرِيدُ أَنْ يُنْجِزَكُمُوهُ فَيَقُولُونَ وَمَا هُوَ أَلَمْ يُبَيِّضْ وُجُوهَنَا وَيُثْقِلْ مَوَازِينَنَا وَيُزَحْزِحْنَا عَنِ النَّارِ وَيُدْخِلْنَا الْجَنَّةَ فَيُكْشَفُ الْحِجَابُ فَيَنْظُرُونَ إِلَيْهِ فَوَ اللهِ مَا أَعْطَاهُمْ خَيْرًا مِنَ النَّظَرِ إِلَيْهِ وَهِيَ الزِّيَادَة O people of Paradise, verily you all have an appointed promise with Allah that He would like to fulfill for you. They will say, And what is that! Has He not already enlightened our faces, made our Scales (of good deeds) heavy, saved us from the Hellfire and entered us into Paradise! Then, the veil will be lifted and they will gaze upon Him (Allah). By Allah, He has not given them anything better than the opportunity to look upon Him, and that is the increase (extra blessing) Do not look at the Enjoyment of the Wealthy, be patient in the worship of Allah Allah, the Exalted, says, وَلَا تَمُدَّنَّ عَيْنَيْكَ إِلَى مَا مَتَّعْنَا بِهِ أَزْوَاجًا مِّنْهُمْ زَهْرَةَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنيَا لِنَفْتِنَهُمْ فِيهِ And strain not your eyes in longing for the things We have given for enjoyment to various groups of them, the splendor of the life of this world, that We may test them thereby. But the provision of your Lord is better and more lasting. Allah, the Exalted, says to His Prophet Muhammad, Do not look at what these people of luxury and their likes and peers have of nice comforts. For verily, it is only short-lived splendor and a feeble bounty, which We are using to test them with. And very few of My servants are truly thankful. Mujahid said, أَزْوَاجًا مِّنْهُمْ (various groups of them), This means the wealthy people. This means, Verily, We have given you (O Muhammad) better than that which We have given them. This is just as Allah says in another Ayah, وَلَقَدْ ءاتَيْنَـكَ سَبْعًا مِّنَ الْمَثَانِي وَالْقُرْءَانَ الْعَظِيمَ لَا تَمُدَّنَّ عَيْنَيْكَ And indeed, We have bestowed upon you seven repeatedly recited verses, and the Grand Qur'an. Look not with your eyes ambitiously. (15:87-88) Likewise, that which Allah has stored for His Messenger in the Hereafter is something extremely great. It is an unlimited reward that cannot be described. This is as Allah says, وَلَسَوْفَ يُعْطِيكَ رَبُّكَ فَتَرْضَى And verily, your Lord will give you so that you shall be well-pleased. (93:5) For this reason, Allah says, ... وَرِزْقُ رَبِّكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَى But the provision of your Lord is better and more lasting. In the Sahih it is recorded that; Umar bin Al-Khattab entered upon the Messenger of Allah while he was in the small room in which he had separated himself from his wives after he had vowed to stay away from them. When he came in, he ﷺ him (the Prophet) lying down upon a sandy straw mat. There was nothing in the house except a pile of sant tree pods and some hanging equipment. Umar's eyes filled with tears (upon seeing this), so the Messenger of Allah said to him, مَايُبْكِيكَ يَا عُمَرُ What makes you cry, O Umar? He replied, O Messenger of Allah, verily Kisra and Caesar are living in their luxurious conditions, yet you are the chosen Friend of Allah amongst His creation! The Prophet said, أَوَ فِي شَكَ أَنْتَ يَا ابْنَ الْخَطَّابِ أُولَيِكَ قَوْمٌ عُجِّلَتْ لَهُمْ طَيِّبَاتُهُمْ فِي حَيَاتِهِمُ الدُّنْيَا Do you have doubt, O son of Al-Khattab? Those people have had their good hastened for them in the life of this world. Thus, the Prophet was the most abstinent of people concerning worldly luxuries, even though he had the ability to attain them. If he acquired anything of worldly treasures he would spend it on this and that for the servants of Allah. He would never save anything for himself for the next day. Ibn Abi Hatim reported from Abu Sa`id that the Messenger of Allah said, إِنَّ أَخْوَفَ مَا أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ مَا يَفْتَحُ اللهُ لَكُمْ مِنْ زَهْرَةِ الدُّنْيَا Verily, the thing I fear most for you all is what Allah will allow you to acquire of the splendor of this world. They (the Companions) said, What is the splendor of this world, O Messenger of Allah? He said, بَرَكَاتُ الاَْرْض The blessings of the earth. Qatadah and As-Suddi said, The splendor of this worldly life means the beautiful adornments of the life of this world. Qatadah said, لِنَفْتِنَهُمْ فِيهِ (that We may test them thereby), So that We may put them to trial. Concerning Allah's statement, وَأْمُرْ أَهْلَكَ بِالصَّلَأةِ وَاصْطَبِرْ عَلَيْهَا And enjoin the Salah on your family, and be patient in offering them. This means to save them from the punishment of Allah by the establishment of the prayer, and you also be patient in performing it. This is as Allah says, يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ قُواْ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَاراً O you who believe! Ward off yourselves and your families against a Fire (Hell). (66:6) Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Zayd bin Aslam reported from his father that; he and Yarfa' would sometimes spend the night at Umar bin Al-Khattab's. Umar had a certain time of night that he would get up and pray. However, sometimes he would not get up for it. Then, we would say, He is not going to get up like he usually does. When he would awaken, he would make his family get up as well. He would say, وَأْمُرْ أَهْلَكَ بِالصَّلَأةِ وَاصْطَبِرْ عَلَيْهَا (And enjoin the Salah on your family, and be patient in offering them). Allah said; لَاا نَسْأَلُكَ رِزْقًا نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكَ We ask not of you a provision:We provide for you. This means that if you establish the prayer, your sustenance will come to you from where you did not expect. This is as Allah says, وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مَخْرَجاًوَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ And whosoever has Taqwa of Allah, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. (65:2-3) Allah also says, وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالاِنسَ إِلاَّ لِيَعْبُدُونِ And I (Allah) created not the Jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone). until, إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الرَّزَّاقُ ذُو الْقُوَّةِ الْمَتِينُ Verily, Allah is the All-Provider, Owner of Power, the Most Strong. (51:56-58) Thus, Allah says, لَاا نَسْأَلُكَ رِزْقًا نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكَ (We ask not of you a provision:We provide for you). Verily, At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said, يَقُولُ اللهُ تَعَالى يَا ابْنَ ادَمَ تَفَرَّغْ لِعِبَادَتِي أَمْلَْ صَدْرَكَ غِنىً وَأَسُدَّ فَقْرَكَ وَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ مَلَْتُ صَدْرَكَ شُغْلً وَلَمْ أَسُدَّ فَقْرَك Allah, the Exalted, says, O son of Adam, perform My worship and I will fill your chest with wealth and fulfill your needs. If you do not do so, then I will fill your chest with toil and I will not fulfill your needs. It is also reported from Zayd bin Thabit that he heard the Messenger of Allah saying, مَنْ كَانَتِ الدُّنْيَا هَمَّهُ فَرَّقَ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرَهُ وَجَعَلَ فَقْرَهُ بَيْنَ عَيْنَيْهِ وَلَمْ يَأْتِهِ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا إِلاَّ مَا كُتِبَ لَهُ وَمَنْ كَانَتِ الاْخِرَةُ نِيَّتَهُ جَمَعَ لَهُ أَمْرَهُ وَجَعَلَ غِنَاهُ فِي قَلْبِهِ وَأَتَتْهُ الدُّنْيَا وَهِيَ رَاغِمَة Whoever makes the worldly life his major concern, then Allah will scatter his situation for him (i.e. make it difficult) and his poverty will be placed between his eyes. He will not get from this world anything except that which has already been written for him. Whoever makes the Hereafter his intention, then his situation will be gathered for him (i.e. made easy) and his wealth will be placed in his heart. The worldly life will come to him anyway (in spite of his not seeking it). Concerning Allah's statement, وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلتَّقْوَى And the good end is for those who have Taqwa. This means the good end in this life and in the Hereafter. In the Hereafter the good end will be Paradise for whoever feared Allah The Request of the Polytheists for Proofs while the Qur'an is itself a Proof Allah, the Exalted, informs about the disbelievers in their statement, وَقَالُوا لَوْلَا يَأْتِينَا بِأيَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّهِ They say:Why does he not bring us a Sign from His Lord? This means, `Why doesn't Muhammad bring us some proof from his Lord?' They meant a sign that was proof of his truthfulness in his claim that he was the Messenger of Allah. Allah, the Exalted, said, أَوَلَمْ تَأْتِهِم بَيِّنَةُ مَا فِي الصُّحُفِ الاُْولَى Has there not come to them the proof of that which is in the former papers (Scriptures)! This means the Qur'an which Allah revealed to him while he was an unlettered man who could not write well and who did not study with the People of the Book. Yet, the Qur'an contains information about the people of the past that tells of their events from times long ago and it agrees with the authentic information in the previous Books concerning these matters. The Qur'an is the supervisor of these other Books. It verifies what is correct and explains the mistakes that were falsely placed in these Books and attributed to them. This Ayah is similar to Allah's statement in Surah Al-`Ankabut, وَقَالُواْ لَوْلَا أُنزِلَ عَلَيْهِ ءايَـتٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِ قُلْ إِنَّمَا الاٌّيَـتُ عِندَ اللَّهِ وَإِنَّمَأ أَنَاْ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ أَوَلَمْ يَكْفِهِمْ أَنَّأ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَـبَ يُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ فِى ذلِكَ لَرَحْمَةً وَذِكْرَى لِقَوْمٍ يُوْمِنُونَ And they say:Why are not signs sent down to him from his Lord! Say:The signs are only with Allah, and I am only a plain warner. It is not sufficient for them that We have sent down to you the Book which is recited to them! Verily, herein is mercy and a reminder for a people who believe. (29:50-51) In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that the Messenger of Allah said, مَا مِنْ نَبِيَ إِلاَّ وَقَدْ أُوتِيَ مِنَ الاْاياتِ مَا امَنَ عَلَىىِمثْلِهِ الْبَشَرُ وَإِنَّمَا كَانَ الَّذِي أُوتِيتُهُ وَحْيًا أَوْحَاهُ اللهُ إِلَيَّ فَأَرْجُو أَنْ أَكُونَ أَكْثَرَهُمْ تَابِعًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَة There was not any Prophet except that he was given signs that caused men to believe. That which I have been given is a revelation that Allah has revealed to me, so I hope that I have the most followers among them (the Prophets) on the Day of Resurrection. In this Hadith, the Prophet only mentioned the greatest of the signs that he was given, which is the Qur'an. However, he did have other miracles, which were innumerable and limitless. These miracles have all been recorded in the books that discuss them, and they have been affirmed in the places that mention them. Then Allah says وَلَوْ أَنَّا أَهْلَكْنَاهُم بِعَذَابٍ مِّن قَبْلِهِ لَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا لَوْلَا أَرْسَلْتَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولاً And if We had destroyed them with a torment before this, they would surely have said:Our Lord! If only You had sent us a Messenger... This means, If We had destroyed these rejecting people before We sent this Noble Messenger to them and revealed the Mighty Book to them, they would have said, رَبَّنَا لَوْلَا أَرْسَلْتَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولاً (Our Lord! If only You had sent us a Messenger), meaning, `before you destroyed us, so we could have believed in him and followed him.' This is like Allah said, فَنَتَّبِعَ ايَاتِكَ مِن قَبْلِ أَن نَّذِلَّ وَنَخْزَى we should certainly have followed Your Ayat, before we were humiliated and disgraced. Allah, the Exalted, explains that these rejecters are stubborn and obstinate and they will not believe. وَلَوْ جَأءَتْهُمْ كُلُّ ءايَةٍ حَتَّى يَرَوُاْ الْعَذَابَ الاٌّلِيمَ Even if every sign should come them, until they see the painful torment. (10:97) This is as Allah says, وَهَـذَا كِتَـبٌ أَنزَلْنَـهُ مُبَارَكٌ فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَاتَّقُواْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ And this is a blessed Book which We have sent down, so follow it and have Taqwa (of Allah), that you may receive mercy. Until His statement, بِمَا كَانُواْ يَصْدِفُونَ (because of their turning away). (6:155-157) Allah also says, وَأَقْسَمُواْ بِاللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَـنِهِمْ لَيِن جَأءَهُمْ نَذِيرٌ لَّيَكُونُنَّ أَهْدَى مِنْ إِحْدَى الاٍّمَمِ And they swore by Allah their most binding oath that if a warner came to them, they would be more guided than any of the nations (before them). (35:42) وَأَقْسَمُواْ بِاللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَـنِهِمْ لَيِن جَأءَتْهُمْ ءَايَةٌ لَّيُوْمِنُنَّ بِهَا And they swear their strongest oaths by Allah, that if there came to them a sign, they would surely believe therein. (6:109) to the completion of those Ayat. Then, Allah says قُلْ Say: Say, O Muhammad, to those who deny you, oppose you and continue in their disbelief and obstinance. كُلٌّ مُّتَرَبِّصٌ Each one is waiting, among you and us; فَتَرَبَّصُوا so wait you too; This is a command to await (anticipate). فَسَتَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ أَصْحَابُ الصِّرَاطِ السَّوِيِّ and you shall know who are they that are on As-Sirat As-ﷺi. This means the straight road. وَمَنِ اهْتَدَى And who are they that have let themselves be guided. meaning guidance to the truth and the path of right guidance. This is similar to Allah's statement, وَسَوْفَ يَعْلَمُونَ حِينَ يَرَوْنَ الْعَذَابَ مَنْ أَضَلُّ سَبِيلً And they will know, when they see the torment, who it is that is most astray from the path! (25:42) And Allah said, سَيَعْلَمُونَ غَداً مَّنِ الْكَذَّابُ الاٌّشِرُ Tomorrow they will come to know who is liar, the insolent one! (54:26) This is the end of the Tafsir of Surah Ta Ha, and all praise and gratitude is due to Allah.