[32]. Surah As-Sajdah [The Prostration]: Ayat 26

২৬. এতে কি তাদের চোখ খোলেনি যে, আমি তাদের পূর্বে অনেক সম্প্রদায়কে ধ্বংস করেছি, যাদের বাড়ী-ঘরে এরা বিচরণ করে। অবশ্যই এতে নিদর্শনাবলী রয়েছে। তারা কি শোনে না?

Ayat 26. Is it not guidance for them, how many generations Allah has destroyed before them in whose dwellings they do walk about? Verily, therein indeed are signs. Would they not then listen?

Tafseer of Surah Al Sajdah (The Prostration) Ayat 26. Does it not teach them a lesson, how many generations Allah destroyed before them, in whose dwellings they (now) go to and fro? Verily in that are Signs: Do they not then listen? If a nation gone astray could only learn from the history of earlier nations that were destroyed for their evil! They could see vestiges of them in their daily goings to and fro: the Jews could see vestiges of the Philistines, Amalekites, etc. in Palestine, and the pagan Arabs, of the 'Ad and Thamud in Arabia. Listen: i.e., listen to the warnings conveyed in Allah's Signs. Notice how naturally the transition is effected from the physical to the spiritual-from the ruined physical vestiges of ungodly nations on this earth to the more intangible signs conveyed by History and Revelation. Here the sense of Hearing is mentioned, both in its physical and its metaphysical or spiritual aspect. In the next verse the sense of Sight is mentioned in both aspects.

Hazrat Ibn Umer (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: when Messenger of Allah  [SAWW](PBUH), and his Companions reached Al-Hijr, the dwellings of the Thamud people, he admonished his Companions (saying), "Do not pass by these people who are being tormented, without weeping, lest the punishment should befall you as it had befallen them.'' [Al-Bukhari Book 04, Chapter 55, Hadith # 564].

Another narration is: Hazrat Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) said: When the Messenger of Allah  [SAWW](PBUH) passed near Al-Hijr, he said, "Do not enter without weeping, the dwellings of those who wronged themselves, lest the same chastisement should fall upon you as it had fallen upon them.'' Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH) then covered his head and sped up until he crossed the valley of the tormented people. 

Lesson : as mentioned above in Surah As-Sajda Ayat 26.“ Is it not guidance for them, how many generations Allah has destroyed before them in whose dwellings” The Thamud were the people to whose guidance Allah sent Prophet Salih PBUH. They lived between Al-Madinah and Syria. In 10 A.H. when the Prophet [SAWW](PBUH) went to the Syrian border for the Tabuk expedition, he also passed through this ruined territory. This Hadith is related to the address which he gave to his Companions on the occasion. Here is an instruction that when we happen to pass through the territory of a nation destroyed in the past as a result of Divine wrath, we are advised to quicken one's pace. That is why we have been commanded to avoid the company of the corrupt and the wrongdoers, lest we meet their bad end, too. As the Qur'an says: "And incline not toward those who do wrong, lest the Fire should touch you.'' (11:113) May Allah saves us from it!