Overview (Verses 12 - 15)

A Glance at History

The surah now opens some pages of the book of human history, speaking of the fate of past communities who argued about resurrection in the same way as did the Arab unbelievers, and who similarly denied God's messages. As a result, they incurred God's inevitable punishment: Long before these unbelievers Noah's people also disbelieved, as did the people of al-Rass, Thamud, Ad, Pharaoh, Lot's brethren, the dwellers of the wooded dales and the people of Tubba`: they all disbelieved God's messengers, and therefore My warnings came true. Were We worn out by the first creation? Yet they are still in doubt about a second creation. (Verses 12-15)

Al-Rass signifies a well over which there is no built wall, and the dales signifies an area thick with trees. The people of the wooded dales most probably refer to Shu ayb's people. We have no information about the people of al-Rass other than this reference here and a similar one in Sarah al-Furvn, (25: 38) The same applies to the people of Tubba `, a title used by the Yemeni kings of the Himyar dynasty. The other peoples mentioned in this short passage are known to anyone who reads the Qur'an.
 
The purpose of this quick reference to these peoples is certainly not to give any detailed information about them. It is only a reminder of the fate of earlier disbelieving communities. What is worth noting is that the verse mentions that each denied 'God's messengers', in the plural. This emphasizes the unity of the divine message as all messengers preached the same faith. Thus, whoever denies anyone of God's messengers actually denies them all, because he rejects the same message delivered by them all. Gods' messengers are brothers forming one community. They are like a tree with roots stretching far back into time. Each branch of that tree projects all its essential qualities, giving an image of the whole. Therefore, whoever cuts a branch actually cuts the tree and all its branches. Therefore, God's warnings came true and those communities suffered the fates known to listeners.

Having stated the fates of all these communities, the surah again picks up the question of resurrection, asking: "Were We worn out by the first creation? Yet they are still in doubt about a second creation." (Verse 15) The first creation is there before their eyes; therefore, the question needs no answer. However, because they do not look at the evidence presented by this first creation, they are in doubt about the second. What can be said about one who denies the truth when such irrefutable evidence is placed before his very own eyes?

Overview (Verses 12 - 15)

A Glance at History

The surah now opens some pages of the book of human history, speaking of the fate of past communities who argued about resurrection in the same way as did the Arab unbelievers, and who similarly denied God's messages. As a result, they incurred God's inevitable punishment: Long before these unbelievers Noah's people also disbelieved, as did the people of al-Rass, Thamud, Ad, Pharaoh, Lot's brethren, the dwellers of the wooded dales and the people of Tubba`: they all disbelieved God's messengers, and therefore My warnings came true. Were We worn out by the first creation? Yet they are still in doubt about a second creation. (Verses 12-15)

Al-Rass signifies a well over which there is no built wall, and the dales signifies an area thick with trees. The people of the wooded dales most probably refer to Shu ayb's people. We have no information about the people of al-Rass other than this reference here and a similar one in Sarah al-Furvn, (25: 38) The same applies to the people of Tubba `, a title used by the Yemeni kings of the Himyar dynasty. The other peoples mentioned in this short passage are known to anyone who reads the Qur'an.
 
The purpose of this quick reference to these peoples is certainly not to give any detailed information about them. It is only a reminder of the fate of earlier disbelieving communities. What is worth noting is that the verse mentions that each denied 'God's messengers', in the plural. This emphasizes the unity of the divine message as all messengers preached the same faith. Thus, whoever denies anyone of God's messengers actually denies them all, because he rejects the same message delivered by them all. Gods' messengers are brothers forming one community. They are like a tree with roots stretching far back into time. Each branch of that tree projects all its essential qualities, giving an image of the whole. Therefore, whoever cuts a branch actually cuts the tree and all its branches. Therefore, God's warnings came true and those communities suffered the fates known to listeners.

Having stated the fates of all these communities, the surah again picks up the question of resurrection, asking: "Were We worn out by the first creation? Yet they are still in doubt about a second creation." (Verse 15) The first creation is there before their eyes; therefore, the question needs no answer. However, because they do not look at the evidence presented by this first creation, they are in doubt about the second. What can be said about one who denies the truth when such irrefutable evidence is placed before his very own eyes?