| Verse (12): "The people before them denied..."

The meaning is apparent. In this, there is solace for the Messenger (peace be upon him) and a reminder that his situation is like that of the messengers before him. They were denied, yet they were patient, and Allah destroyed their deniers and granted them victory.

Regarding "and the companions of the well (Aṣḥāb al-Raṣṣ)": There are different views among the exegetes:

1. Some said they were the people of Shu'ayb.
2. Some said they were those to whom a man came running from the farthest part of the city (referring to the people of 'Isa, peace be upon him).
3. Some said they were the people of the Trench (Aṣḥāb al-Ukhdūd).

"Al-Raṣṣ" is a place they were attributed to, or an action, which is digging a well. It is said, rassa (he dug) if he dug a well. This has been previously discussed in Surah Al-Furqan.

He mentioned them here as "the brethren of Lot" and said "the people of Noah" because Lot was sent to a group belonging to the people of Abraham, peace be upon him (Lot's relatives). Noah, however, was sent to a great multitude.

He said "Pharaoh" and did not say "the people of Pharaoh," and He said "and the people of Tubbaʿ" because Pharaoh was the one who was deluded, scornful of his people, and absolute in his command. Tubbaʿ, however, relied upon his people, so the consideration was given to Pharaoh. He did not say "to the people of Pharaoh."

And His saying, the Exalted: {Every one of them denied the messengers, so My threat was realized.}

This bears two interpretations:

1. That each one of them denied his specific messenger. In this case, the definite article al- (the) in al-rusul (the messengers) refers to the specific messenger sent to them.
2. The sounder view is that each one of them denied all the messengers. In this case, the definite article al- refers to the genus (all messengers). This, in turn, has two aspects:
   • That the one who denies one messenger is a denier of every messenger.
   • The sounder view is that those mentioned were entirely disbelievers in prophethood and resurrection altogether.

And His saying {so My threat was realized} means what Allah promised regarding the victory of the messengers over them and the destruction of the deniers.

{Did We then become weary with the first creation? Nay, but they are in confusion about a new creation.}