You are) like those who were before you…” Those very...

You are) like those who were before you…” Those very hypocrites of old were stronger and more abundant both from the point of strength and from the point of properties and children than these ones. The verse says: “…they were stronger than you in power and more abundant in wealth and children…” They enjoyed their share of the bounties of this world in the way of lusts, pollutions, sins, mischief, and corruption.

These hypocrites of this community also enjoyed their own share in the same way that the former hypocrites had enjoyed.

“…so they enjoyed their portion…” Then, the Qur’ān adds in the verse: “…thus do you enjoy your portion as those before you did enjoy their portion; and you indulge in vain discourses as they indulged…” For an admonition and a warning to the group of hypocrites contemporary with the Prophet (S) and all the hypocrites of the world, the Qur’ān, through two phrases, remarks the end of the former hypocrites.

The first phrase is recited: “…These are those whose works are null in this world and the Hereafter…” And the second phrase says: “…and those are the losers.” Such hypocrites may enjoy some temporary and limited benefits from their hypocritical deeds in this life, but if the circumstance be observed carefully, it can be made manifest that, they enjoy of real benefits neither in this world nor in the next world.

Surah At-Tawbah – Verse 70 أَلَمْ يَأْتِهِمْ نَبَأُ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ وَعَادٍ وَثَمُودَ وَقَوْمِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَأَصْحَابِ مَدْيَنَ وَالْمُؤْتَفِكَاتِ أَتَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ فَمَا كَانَ اللّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَكِن كَانُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ 70 ***.

“Has not the news of those before them came to them, of the people of Noah and ‘Ād and Thamūd, and the people of Abraham and the dwellers of Madyan and the subverted cities?*** Their Messengers came to them with clear arguments, so it was not Allah to do injustice unto them, but they unto themselves used to be unjust.” In this holy verse, the Qur’ān addresses the Prophet (S) and, as a positive interrogation with a negative sense, says: “Has not the news of those before them came to them, of the people of Noah and ‘Ād and Thamūd, and the people of Abraham and the dwellers of Madyan and the subverted cities?…” These are some shaking events the study and searching of which moves any person with the least feeling in his heart.

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