So He does not hasten to punish us...

So He does not hasten to punish us, as soon as we sin, and will give us some respite that we may think it over and perhaps amend our deeds. He does give us a good respite, but unfortunately we use it badly, so that it may serve to increase us in rudeness and obstinacy. Belief in God, lays deep in man's very existence, just like an instinct. When a trouble touches man, he sincerely appeals to God and prays ardently for rescue.

Almost all sorts of people in the hour of trouble appeal to Him, but when He removes their trouble from them, they forget all, and pass on as if they had never called Him for help! Few are those who change no attitude and the position that they assumed in their afflication. This is because most of those who have no faith, behave like animals for being void of reason and wisdom. They don't mind to use their brain a little and be thankful to their Lord for rescuing them!

وَلَقَدْ أَهْلَكْنَا الْقُرُونَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَمَّا ظَلَمُوا وَجَاءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَمَا كَانُوا لِيُؤْمِنُوا كَذَلِكَ نَجْزِي الْقَوْمَ الْمُجْرِمِينَ(( 13 )) 13- AND WE DESTROYED GENERATIONS BEFORE YOU WHEN THEY OPPRESSED; AND THEIR MESSENGERS CAME TO THEM WITH EVIDENCES; BUT THEY WERE NOT TO BELIEVE. THUS WE RECOMPENSE A PEOPLE WHO ARE GUILTY.

ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ خَلاَئِفَ فِي الاَْرْضِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ لِنَنْظُرَ كَيْفَ تَعْمَلُونَ(( 14 )) 14- THEN WE MADE YOU SUCCESSORS IN THE LAND AFTER THEM, IN ORDER TO OBSERVE WHAT DO YOU DO(HOW YOU BEHAVE). [ 70 ] THE COMMENTARY YOU AND THE ANCIENT OPPRESSORS (VERSE NO. 13 - 14) The verses turn the attention of Muslims to the history of the past generation throughout ages. The cause of their destruction and ruin has always been their oppression. ``They were oppressors.'' says Qura"n.

A kingdom may be continued with blasphemy; but not with oppression. It connot keep on unjustly and with cruelty. The Arabic, ``ZOLM'' translated to oppression, has a wide variety of meanings, including all sorts of sins and guilt. Even polytheism in Qura"nic literature, is a kind of ZOLM, and the worst kind of it. As to the phrase:ِ ``BUT THEY WERE NOT TO BELIEVE'' it may imply that God will not perish those who are expected to believe later on, or in future.

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