وَتَرَكْنَا فِيهَآ ءَايَةً لِّلَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ ٱلْعَذَابَ ٱلْأَلِيمَ 37
Translations
And We left therein a sign for those who fear the painful punishment.
Transliteration
Wa taraknā fīhā āyatan lilladhīna yakhāfūn al-'adhāb al-alīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the remnants of the destroyed people of Lot (the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah) left as a sign for those who fear the painful punishment of Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that the ruins and desolate remains visible in that region serve as an evidentiary lesson about divine retribution against those who commit grave sins. The ayah emphasizes that these physical signs are specifically for the God-conscious believers who take heed from historical examples of divine punishment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Adh-Dhariyat, which was revealed in Mecca during the early Meccan period. The surah discusses various signs of Allah's power and judgment. This particular ayah is part of a passage (verses 32-37) recounting the story of Prophet Lot and the destruction of his people, providing the Meccan Muslims with historical lessons about the consequences of rejecting Allah's messengers and indulging in forbidden practices.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: 'The best of you are those of my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them.' (Sahih Bukhari 2509). Additionally, hadiths in Sunan Ibn Majah describe the Prophet's warnings about the punishment that befell previous nations as cautionary examples for believers.
Themes
Key Lesson
The ruins of destroyed civilizations serve as tangible reminders for the God-conscious that disobedience and moral corruption carry severe divine consequences. Believers should reflect upon historical examples with reverence and fear of Allah, using them as motivation for righteous conduct and adherence to divine guidance.