Surah Hud 11:100

The Lesson taken from the Destroyed Towns

When Allah mentioned the story of the Prophets and what happened with them and their nations -- how He destroyed the disbelievers and saved the believers -- He goes on to say,

(That is some of the news of the (population of ) towns) meaning, news of them

(which We relate unto you; of them, some are (still) standing,) This means still remaining.

(and some have been (already) reaped.) This means totally destroyed.

(We wronged them not,) This means, "When We destroyed them."

(but they wronged themselves.) their rejecting their Messengers and disbelieving in them.

(So their gods, profited them not...) This is referring to their idols that they used to worship and invoke.

(other than Allah naught) the idols did not benefit them, nor did they save them when Allah's com- mand came for their destruction.

(nor did they add aught to them but destruction.) Mujahid, Qatadah and others said, "This means loss. Because the reason for their destruction and their ruin was that they followed those false gods. Therefore, they were losers in this life and the Hereafter."

Pada ayat ini Allah swt menerangkan bahwa perisitwa yang telah terjadi pada umat terdahulu dan kejadian-kejadian penting baik di kota maupun di desa-desa sejak dari kaum Nabi Nuh a.s. hingga kaum nabi-nabi sesudahnya, sengaja dicantumkan di dalam Al-Quran, supaya Nabi Muhammad dapat membacakan kepada manusia dan dapat pula dibaca oleh orang-orang sepeninggalnya untuk dapat dijadikan pelajaran dan peringatan.

Di antara negeri-negeri yang telah dibinasakan itu ada yang masih nampak bekas-bekasnya ibarat tanaman yang masih tegak berdiri di muka bumi seperti halnya negeri kaum Nabi Saleh a.s. Ada pula yang tidak mempunyai bekas sama sekali laksana tanaman yang telah dituai yang tidak mempunyai bekas-bekas sedikit pun seperti halnya negeri kaum Nabi Lut a.s. yang telah dijungkirbalikkan itu.