We Wouldn't Have Known

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The stories of the Prophets in the Qur’an are not to entertain or mere narratives or histories, but to reflect and derive lessons. They teach us the highest spiritual Truth; they give us advice, guidance and warning, as to how we should govern our lives, and they awaken our conscience and remind us of the working of Allah’s Law in human affairs.

"All that we relate to you of the stories of the messengers - with it We make firm your heart: in them there come to you the Truth, as well as an exhortation and a message of remembrance to those who believe." (Qur'an Hud 11:120)

"We relate unto you (Muhammad, Allah bless him and grant him peace) the best of stories through Our Revelations unto you, of this Qur'an. And before this (i.e. before the coming of Divine Revelation to you), you were among those who knew nothing about it (the Qur'an)" (Qur'an Yusuf 12:3)

"These are some of the stories of communities which We relate unto thee: of them some are standing, and some have been mown down (by the sickle of time.)" (Qur'an Hud 11:100)

Among the communities which remained standing is in Egypt. We have the pyramids and some ruins, although Fir'aun and his wicked people were drowned in the sea.

There are remnants of Thamud. The Thamud lived in huge houses that they carved out of the huge rocks in the mountains - and the remains of these houses are still visible in northwest Saudi Arabia. The were arrogant and they oppressed the poor among them. Prophet Saleh, whom they respected very much for he was the most righteous among them, was sent to them as a warner. They rejected him. Allah destroyed them by a terrible storm of thunder and lightning.

"But the Thamud - they were destroyed by a terrible Storm of thunder and lightning!" (Qur'an Haaqqa 69:5)

There are no remnants of the people of Ad. Ad were unjust and arrogant people spoiled by their prosperity, power and strength. The Prophet Hud preached to them in vain. Allah erased them from the face of the earth by furious wind. If Allah didn't tell us about Ad, where they lived, we wouldn't have known about them. Now, the City of Iram with lofty pillars, the homes of 'Ad as described in the Qur'an, is a land of sand dunes in Hadramawt.

"And the ‘Ad, they were destroyed by a furious Wind, exceedingly violent; He made it rage against them seven nights and eight days in succession: so that you could see the (whole) people lying prostrate in its (path), as they had been roots of hollow palm trees tumbled down!" (Qur'an Haaqqa 69:6-7)

If we disbelieve in Allah and His Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc,) Allah will include us in severe punishment. If we stick to the Truth that we have and keep away from the ways of the non-believers, and we are grateful with what Allah has given us, whenever Allah punishes the non-believers, Allah will save the ones who believe in Him.

"And when Our Commandment came, We saved Hud and those who believed with him by a Mercy from Us, and We saved them from a severe torment. Such were 'Ad, they rejected the Ayaat of their Lord and disobeyed His Messengers, and followed the command of every proud obstinate (oppressor of the truth, from their leaders) (Qur'an Hud 11:58-59)

"When Our decree issued, We saved Shu'aib and those who believed with him, by (special) mercy from Ourselves. But the (mighty) blast did seize the wrong- doers, and they lay prostrate in their homes by the morning,- As if they had never dwelt and flourished there!. Ah! Behold! How the Madyan were removed (from sight) as were removed the Thamud!" (Qur'an Hud 11:94-95)

May Allah grants us mercy from Himself and save us from His Punishment. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.

Wassalaam
Aisha