We repeatedly recite in the verses of the Qur’a-n that Allah...

We repeatedly recite in the verses of the Qur’a-n that Allah invites the faithless and disobedient persons ‘to travel in the earth’ and see the traces of the nations who have afflicted the Divine chastisement. In Sura Ar-Room, No. 30, verse 9 we recite: “Have they not travelled in the earth and seen how was the end of those before them? …” These are those who had a stronger power than these and changed the earth, and they made it more populated than the amount these have done.

Their prophets came to them with clear proofs, but they continued their own egotism, and were encompassed with painful divine punishment. Never did Allah injustice to them, but they were unjust to themselves.

This verse from Sura Ar-Room continues saying: “… they were stronger than them in strength, and they ploughed up the earth and cultivated it more than they themselves have cultivated it; and their messenger came to them with clear proofs (miracles) (which they rejected to their own destruction); so Allah would never deal with them unjustly, but they deal unjustly with their own selves.” These frequent emphases of the Qur’a-n are some proofs upon the extraordinary effect of these observations in the selves of human beings.

They must go to see by their eyes that which they have studied in the history or heard from people. They should go and see the former destroyed land of the Pharaohs, the ruined castles of the ancient kings, the scattered graves of Caesars, the rotten bones of people such as Numru-d, and the afflicted lands of the people of Lu-t and Thamu-d from near and close distance, they can hear the advice of these silent people and pay attention to the cry of those who are buried under the dust, and watch by their eyes what will finally happen to them.

So when their term expires, then verily Allah is seeing with respect to His servants.” Commentary: Allah is patient and He forgives people and gives them respite, and does not immediately punish the wrong doers in this world for their evil actions. Allah’s giving respite to the sinners is a wisely action.