Tafsir of Ar-Rum 30:42

Surah Ar-Rum (The Romans): Verse 42

{Say: "Travel through the earth and see what was the end of those who came before."}

When their state was clarified by the appearance of corruption in their affairs due to the corruption of their sayings, He clarified for them the destruction of those similar to them whose actions were like their actions, saying: {Say: "Travel through the earth and see what was the end of those who came before."} Meaning, the people of Noah, 'Ad, and Thamud.

This sequence is of the utmost beauty. This is because, at the time of bestowing grace and favor, He said: {It is Allah Who created you, then provided for you...} (Maryam: 40), meaning He gave you existence, then sustenance/preservation. At the time of abandonment due to transgression, He said: {Corruption has appeared in the land and sea} (Ar-Rum: 41), meaning your provision has diminished. Then the Almighty said: {Travel through the earth}, meaning He will annihilate you just as He annihilated those before you.

It is as if He is saying: He gave you existence and preservation, and He will strip you of existence and preservation. The stripping of preservation occurs through the appearance of corruption, and the stripping of existence occurs through annihilation. When giving, existence is mentioned before preservation because existence comes first, then preservation. When taking away, preservation (continuity) is mentioned before existence.

{Most of them were polytheists.}

This statement has three possible interpretations:

1. The destruction that befell the majority was due to manifest polytheism, even though it was also due to other sins like transgression and disobedience, as was the case with the People of the Sabbath.
2. Every disbeliever who was destroyed was not necessarily a polytheist; rather, some of them were deniers who negated God's existence, but they were few. The majority of disbelievers were polytheists.
3. The immediate punishment was not restricted only to the polytheists when it came; just as He said: {And fear a trial which will not afflict those who have wronged among you exclusively} (Al-Anfal: 25). Rather, it afflicted the young and the insane, but the majority of them were polytheists.

Surah Ar-Rum (The Romans): Verses 43–44

{So set your face toward the right religion before there comes a Day from Allah that cannot be averted. On that Day, they will be split apart. Whoever disbelieves, upon him is his disbelief, and whoever does righteous deeds, for themselves they are preparing a place.}*