ﱲ ﱳ ﱴ ﱵ ﱶ ﱷ ﱸ ﱹ ﱺ ﱻ ﱼ ﱽ ﱾ ﱿ ﲀ ﲁ ﲂ ﲃ ﲄ ﲅ ﲆ ﲇ ﲈ ﲉ ﲊ ﲋ ﲌ ﲍ ﲎ ﲏ ﲐ ﲑ ﲒ ﲓ
Have they not traveled through the earth and observed how was the end of those before them? They were greater than them in power, and they plowed the earth and built it up more than they have built it up, and their messengers came to them with clear evidences. And Allah would not ever have wronged them, but they were wronging themselves.
Tafsir
Verse range: 30:9
Original Text Analysis:
وقال في الدليلين المتقدمين : { أولم يروا } ولم يقل : { أولم يسيروا } إذ لا حاجة هناك إلى السير بحضور النفس والسماء والأرض وقال ههنا : { أولم يسيروا * فينظروا } ذكرهم بحال أمثالهم ووبال أشكالهم ، ثم ذكر أنهم أولى بالهلاك لأن من تقدم من عاد وثمود كانوا أشد منهم قوة ولم تنفعهم قواهم وكانوا أكثر مالا وعمارة ، ولم يمنع عنهم الهلاك أموالهم وحصونهم ، واعلم أن اعتماد الإنسان على ثلاثة أشياء قوة جسمية فيه أو في أعوانه إذ بها المباشرة وقوة مالية إذ بها التأهب للمباشرة ، وقوة ظهرية يستند إليها عند الضعف والفتور وهي بالحصون والعمائر ، فقال تعالى : كانوا أشد منهم قوة في الجسم وأكثر منهم مالا لأنهم أثاروا الأرض أي حرثوها ، ومنه بقرة تثير الأرض ، وقيل منه سمي ثورا ، وأنتم لا حراثة لكم فأموالهم كانت أكثر ، وعمارتهم كانت أكثر لأن أبنيتهم كانت رفيعة وحصونهم منيعة ، وعمارة أهل مكة كانت يسيرة ثم هؤلاء جاءتهم رسلهم بالبينات وأمروهم ونهوهم ، فلما كذبوا أهلكوا فكيف أنتم ، وقوله : { فما كان الله ليظلمهم } يعني لم يظلمهم بالتكليف ، فإن التكليف شريف لا يؤثر له إلا محل شريف ولكن هم ظلموا أنفسهم بوضعها في موضع خسيس ، وهو عبادة الأصنام واتباع إبليس ، فكأن الله بالتكليف وضعهم فيما خلقوا له وهو الربح ، لأنه تعالى قال خلقتكم لتربحوا علي لا لأربح عليكم ، والوضع في ( أي ) موضع كان الخلق له ليس بظلم ، وأما هم فوضعوا أنفسهم في مواضع الخسران ولم يكونوا خلقوا إلا للربح فهم كانوا ظالمين ، وهذا الكلام منا وإن كان في الظاهر يشبه كلام المعتزلة لكن العاقل يعلم كيف يقوله أهل السنة ، وهو أن هذا الوضع كان بمشيئة الله وإرادته ، لكنه كان منهم ومضافا إليهم .
Translation:
In the two preceding proofs (verses), it was stated: {Have they not seen?} (referring to the signs), and it was not said: {Have they not traveled?} because there was no need for physical travel when the self, the sky, and the earth were present as evidence.
However, here it is said: **{Have they not traveled and then observed?}* This serves as a reminder to them of the fate of their predecessors and the dire consequences that befell similar people.
Then, it is mentioned that they are more deserving of destruction because those who preceded them—'Ad and Thamud—were stronger than them in physical power, yet their strength did not benefit them. They were also richer in wealth and construction; their riches and strongholds did not ward off destruction.
Know that human reliance rests on three things:
Allah states that they ('Ad and Thamud) were stronger than the Meccans in body and richer in wealth because "they cultivated the earth" (أثاروا الأرض), meaning they plowed it (hence the term thawr for a bull, which plows). They had cultivation, whereas you (Meccans) do not have such cultivation. Thus, their wealth and construction were greater, their buildings taller, and their fortresses impregnable, while the construction of the people of Mecca was modest.
Furthermore, messengers came to those predecessors with clear proofs, commanding and forbidding them. When they denied the truth, they were destroyed. So, what about you?
Regarding the statement: {Then it was not for Allah to wrong them} (i.e., He did not wrong them through the imposition of religious obligations/accountability). Accountability is an honorable status that only a noble subject can bear. Rather, they wronged themselves by placing themselves in a base position—worshipping idols and following Iblis. It is as if Allah, through accountability, placed them where they were created to profit (i.e., in a state where they could achieve reward), because Allah the Exalted said: "I created you to profit from Me, not for Me to profit from you." Placing someone in the position for which they were created is not an injustice. As for them, they placed themselves in positions of loss, whereas they were only created for profit. Thus, they were the wrongdoers.
This explanation, although seemingly resembling the views of the Mu'tazila, is understood by the intelligent person as the view of the Ahl al-Sunnah: this placement (of accountability) occurred by the Will and Decree of Allah, yet it was attributed to them and originated from their actions.
Verse 10:
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Translation:
{Then the end result for those who did evil was the worst [outcome]: that they denied the signs of Allah and used to mock them.}
