Juz 24: Az-Zumar 32 to Fuṣṣilat 46
Section 16 of 18 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
16. Punishment of Past Nations: Ad and Thamud | Verses: Fussilat 41:13-18
After describing His magnificent creation, Allah transitions to historical examples that serve as warnings, showing how previous nations responded to divine guidance. These accounts of Ad and Thamud demonstrate the consequences of rejecting Allah's signs and messengers despite clear evidence.
Allah begins by addressing the Quraysh's rejection of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):
فَإِنْ أَعْرَضُوا فَقُلْ أَنذَرْتُكُمْ صَاعِقَةً مِّثْلَ صَاعِقَةِ عَادٍ وَثَمُودَ
“So, if they turn away, then say, "I have warned you of a calamity like the calamity of 'Ād and Thamūd.'”
When confronted with continued rejection, Allah instructs His Prophet to remind the disbelievers about the fate of two powerful civilizations that came before them: Ad and Thamud. Both these nations were known for their physical strength, architectural achievements, and material advancement – yet their power could not protect them from Allah's punishment when they persisted in disbelief.
These nations received clear warnings through their respective messengers:
إِذْ جَاءَتْهُمُ الرُّسُلُ مِن بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا اللَّهَ ۚ قَالُوا لَوْ شَاءَ رَبُّنَا لَأَنزَلَ مَلَائِكَةً فَإِنَّا بِمَا أُرْسِلْتُم بِهِ كَافِرُونَ
“When the messengers came to them from their front and from their rear, saying, "Do not worship anyone but Allah." They said, "Had our Lord (really) willed (to send someone), He would have sent down angels. So, we are deniers of what you have been sent with.”
The expression "from their front and from their rear" indicates the comprehensive nature of the message delivery – the messengers approached them from every direction, leaving no excuse for ignorance. The core message was simple: worship Allah alone. Yet their response revealed arrogance and flawed reasoning – they demanded angels as messengers rather than humans, using this as an excuse to reject the divine message.
Allah then specifically addresses the people of Ad:
فَأَمَّا عَادٌ فَاسْتَكْبَرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَ
“As for ‘Ād, they showed arrogance in the land with no right (to do so), and said, “Who is stronger than us in power?” Did they not see that Allah, who created them, is stronger than them in power? And they used to reject Our signs.” (41:15)