The Destroyed Generations  part 1‏

                  

The message of Allah has been sent to all previous generations through various Prophets. Whenever the transgression of a generations exceeded, Allah destroyed them all because of their iniquities except a few whom he pleased. Allah sent Prophets after Prophets but there were always a large number of people who ridiculed the signs of Allah. Allah tells us in the Quran to reflect upon the stories of the old and to learn a lesson from their fate. The final result of their constant transgression was destruction. When punishment came to these sinners their only last utterance was: "Indeed we did wrong" (7:5). In the end they did cry for mercy but it was no longer time for being saved (38:3).

Surat number 7, Al-A'raf, tells us about some of these incidents that has taken place in the world. The whole Surat is logically built up and guides you step by step with information that will make you reflect. In the very beginning of this chapter we are being told that the Quran has been revealed to warn the ones who err and to teach the ones who believe. Further we are being introduced to the story of Adam and Eve in the garden and how Iblis made them disobey Allah and promised to seduce men and to misled them from the straight way. The consequences of it was that Allah made the earth a dwelling place for mankind and gave them a respite until the day of Judgment.

Another important point in this Surat is in verses 7:38-41. Every time a company of evil people will enter the Fire of hell, they will curse the people who went before. They will blame their evil deeds on the earlier generation and say that they were misled. But their curse will have no effect. Both parties will receive a double penalty. The first generation will get penalty for their own bad sins and for setting up bad example to the next generation. The later generation will get double penalty for their own bad sins and for the failure in learning from the past generation.

Some of the historical events taken place in the past:

Noah (alaihissalaam)

7:59 We sent Noah to his people. He said: "O my people! worship Allah. ye have no other god but Him. I fear for you the punishment of a dreadful day!

7:60 The leaders of his people said: "Ah! we see thee evidently wandering (in mind)."

7:61 He said: "O my people! No wandering is there in my (mind): on the contrary I am an apostle from the Lord and Cherisher of the worlds!

7:62 "I but fulfill towards you the duties of my Lord's mission: Sincere is my advice to you, and I know from Allah something that ye know not.

7:63 "Do ye wonder that there hath come to you a message from your Lord, through a man of your own people, to warn you,- so that ye may fear Allah and happily receive His Mercy?"

7:64 But they rejected him, and We delivered him, and those with him, in the Ark: but We overwhelmed in the flood those who rejected Our signs. They were indeed a blind people!

Hud (alaihissalaam)

7:65 To the 'Ad people, (We sent) Hud, one of their (own) brethren: He said: O my people! Worship Allah. Ye have no other god but Him will ye not fear ((Allah))?"

7:66 The leaders of the Unbelievers among his people said: "Ah! We see thou art an imbecile!" and "We think thou art a liar!"

7:67 He said: "O my people! I am no imbecile, but (I am) an apostle from the Lord and Cherisher of the worlds!

7:68 "I but fulfill towards you the duties of my Lord's mission: I am to you a sincere and trustworthy adviser.

7:69 "Do ye wonder that there hath come to you a message from your Lord through a man of your own people, to warn you? Call in remembrance that He made you inheritors after the people of Noah, and gave you a stature tall among the nations. Call in remembrance the benefits (ye have received) from Allah, that so ye may prosper."

7:70 They said: "Comest thou to us, that we may worship Allah alone, and give up the cult of our fathers? Bring us what thou threaten us with; if so be that thou tellest the truth!"

7:71 He said: "Punishment and wrath have already come upon you from your Lord: dispute ye with me over names which ye have devised - ye and your fathers,- without authority from Allah, then wait: I am amongst you, also waiting."

7:72 We saved him and those who adhered to him. By Our mercy, and We cut off the roots of those who rejected Our signs and did not believe.

Salih (alaihissalaam)

7:73 To the Thamud people (We sent) Salih, one of their own brethren: He said: "O my people!,worship Allah. ye have no other god but Him. Now hath come unto you a clear (Sign) from your Lord! This she-camel of Allah is a Sign unto you: So leave her to graze in Allah's earth, and let her come to no harm, or ye shall be seized with a grievous punishment.

7:74 "And remember how He made you inheritors after the 'Ad people and gave you habitations in the land: ye build for yourselves palaces and castles in (open) plains, and care out homes in the mountains; so bring to remembrance the benefits (ye have received) from Allah, and refrain from evil and mischief on the earth."

7:75 The leaders of the arrogant party among his people said to those who were reckoned powerless - those among them who believed: "know ye indeed that Salih is an apostle from his Lord?" They said: "We do indeed believe in the revelation which hath been sent through him."

7:76 The Arrogant party said: "For our part, we reject what ye believe in."

7:77 Then they ham-strung the she-camel, and insolently defied the order of their Lord, saying: "O Salih! bring about thy threats, if thou art an apostle (of Allah.!"

7:78 So the earthquake took them unawares, and they lay prostrate in their homes in the morning!

7:79 So Salih left them, saying: "O my people! I did indeed convey to you the message for which I was sent by my Lord: I gave you good counsel, but ye love not good counselors!"

Lut (alaihissalaam)

7:80 We also (sent) Lut: He said to his people: "Do ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you?

7:81 "For ye practice your lusts on men in preference to women: ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds."

7:82 And his people gave no answer but this: they said, "Drive them out of your city: these are indeed men who want to be clean and pure!"

7:83 But we saved him and his family, except his wife: she was of those who legged behind.

7:84 And we rained down on them a shower (of brimstone): Then see what was the end of those who indulged in sin and crime!