Jonah: (13-14) And We destroyed the generations...

Issues in the Verse:

When the Almighty recounted how they used to say: "O Allah, if this is the truth from You, then rain down upon us stones from the sky, or bring us a painful punishment" (Al-Anfal: 32), He responded by mentioning that answering their plea would bring no good. He then demonstrated that they were liars in this request, because if affliction befell them, they would immediately turn to supplication to Allah to remove it.

In this verse, Allah presents a threat: He might bring upon them the punishment of complete annihilation, and He will not remove it from them. The purpose of this is to deter them from uttering that statement ("If this is the truth from You, then rain down upon us stones from the sky"). When they hear that Allah might answer their prayer by sending down the punishment of annihilation, and then they hear from the Jews and Christians that this has happened many times before, it serves as a deterrent and restraint against repeating such words. This is a sound and acceptable explanation for the structure of the passage.

The author of Al-Kashshaf stated that {لما} (When) is an adverb of time modifying {أهلكنا} (We destroyed). The و (and) in {وجاءتهم} (and there came to them) is a circumstantial particle (hal), meaning they wronged themselves by rejecting the truth, even though their Messengers came to them with clear proofs and signs (miracles).

The phrase {وما كانوا ليؤمنوا} (and they were not going to believe) can either be coordinated with {ظلموا} (they wronged themselves) or be an inserted clause. The ل (li) emphasizes the negation, indicating that Allah already knew they would persist in disbelief. This shows that Allah destroyed them precisely because they rejected the Messengers, and thus every criminal is recompensed accordingly. This serves as a warning to the people of Mecca for their rejection of the Messenger of Allah.

It is also recited as {يُجزى} (He recompenses) with the letter Yā’.

The statement {ثم جعلناكم خلائف} (Then We made you successors) addresses those to whom Muhammad (peace be upon him) was sent. It means: "We made you successors in the land after the generations We destroyed, so that We might observe how you will act—whether good or evil—and deal with you according to your deeds."

Two questions remain regarding this verse:

Question 1: How is the term observation ({لننظر} - so that We may observe) permissible when it implies comparison/confrontation, which is attributed to Allah?

Answer: The term observation is used metaphorically for true knowledge that admits no doubt. This knowledge is likened to the observation of a viewer or the direct sight of an eyewitness.

Question 2: The phrase {ثم جعلناكم خلائف فى الارض من بعدهم لننظر كيف تعملون} (Then We made you successors in the land after them so that We might observe how you act) suggests that Allah did not know their conditions before their existence.

Answer: It means that Allah treats His servants in the manner of one seeking knowledge of what they will do, so that He may recompense them accordingly. This is similar to His statement: {ليبلوكم أيكم أحسن عملاً} (to test you as to which of you is best in deed) (Hud: 7), and similar examples have preceded.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "The world is green and sweet, and Allah has made you successors in it, so He is observing how you will act." Qatadah said: "Our Lord has spoken the truth. He did not make us successors except to observe our deeds, so show Allah good from your deeds, by night and by day."

Al-Zajjaj stated that the position of {كيف} (how) is accusative (nasb) due to {تعملون} (you act), because Kayfa is an interrogative particle, and what precedes an interrogation does not govern its grammatical case. If you were to say: "So that We may observe whether you act well or badly," the meaning would be that the knower is involved in "acting well or badly."

Verse 15:

When Our clear verses are recited to them, those who do not expect to meet Us say, "Bring a Qur'an other than this, or change it." Say, "It is not for me to change it of my own accord. I follow only what is revealed to me. Indeed, I fear, if I should disobey my Lord, the punishment of a great Day."