Know that just as the Almighty God patiently sustained His Messenger in the previous verse, He warns the people with this verse. He commanded His Messenger to say to them: Do not be deceived by the worldly pleasures and delights you have found and attained. Rather, **travel through the earth** so that you may know the truth of what the Messenger has informed you concerning the descent of punishment upon those who denied the Messengers in past times. For when you travel through the earth and journey across the lands, you will inevitably witness those remnants, thus perfecting the lesson and strengthening insight.

If it is asked: What is the difference between His saying, "Travel through the earth, and see" (Alu 'Imran: 137) and His saying, "Then look"?

We say: His saying, **"and see"** (فانظروا) indicates that God made looking a consequence of traveling. It is as if He said: Travel for the purpose of looking, and do not travel like the heedless.

As for His saying, **"Travel through the earth, then look"** (سيروا فى الارض ثم انظروا), it means permitting travel on earth for trade and other benefits, and obligating reflection upon the ruins of the destroyed nations. Then, God Almighty drew attention to this distinction with the word **"then"** (ثم) to emphasize the separation between what is obligatory and what is permissible. And God knows best.