Surah An-Nahl 16:27

Discussion about what the previous Peoples did, and what was done to Them

قَدْ مَكَرَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ

(Those before them indeed plotted,) Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said: "This refers to Namrud (Nimrod), who built the tower." Others said that it refers to Bukhtanassar (Nebuchadnezzar). The correct view is that this is said by way of example, to refute what was done by those who disbelieved in Allah and associated others in worship with Him. As Nuh said,

وَمَكَرُواْ مَكْراً كُبَّاراً

("And they have hatched a mighty scheme.") (71:22) meaning, they used all sorts of ploys to misguide their people, and tempted them to join them in their Shirk via all possible means. On the Day of Resurrection their followers will say to them:

بَلْ مَكْرُ الَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ إِذْ تَأْمُرُونَنَآ أَن نَّكْفُرَ بِاللَّهِ وَنَجْعَلَ لَهُ أَندَاداً

("Nay, but it was your plotting by night and day, when you ordered us to disbelieve in Allah and set up rivals to Him!") (34:33)

فَأَتَى اللَّهُ بُنْيَـنَهُمْ مِّنَ الْقَوَاعِدِ

(but Allah struck at the foundation of their building.) meaning, He uprooted it and brought their efforts to naught. This is like the Ayah:

كُلَّمَآ أَوْقَدُواْ نَاراً لِّلْحَرْبِ أَطْفَأَهَا اللَّهُ

(Every time they kindled the fire of war, Allah extinguished it.) 5:64 and

فَأَتَـهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَمْ يَحْتَسِبُواْ وَقَذَفَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمُ الرُّعْبَ يُخْرِبُونَ بُيُوتَهُمْ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ وَأَيْدِى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَاعْتَبِرُواْ يأُوْلِى الاٌّبْصَـرِ

(But Allah's (torment) reached them from a place where they were not expecting it, and He cast terror into their hearts so that they destroyed their own dwellings with their own hands and the hands of the believers. So then take admonition, O you with eyes (to see).) 59:2 Allah says here:

فَأَتَى اللَّهُ بُنْيَـنَهُمْ مِّنَ الْقَوَاعِدِ فَخَرَّ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّقْفُ مِن فَوْقِهِمْ وَأَتَـهُمُ الْعَذَابُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لاَ يَشْعُرُونَثُمَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَـمَةِ يُخْزِيهِمْ

(but Allah struck at the foundation of their building, and then the roof fell down upon them, from above them, and the torment overtook them from directions they did not perceive. Then, on the Day of Resurrection, He will disgrace them) 16:26-27 meaning, He will expose their scandalous deeds and what they used to hide in their hearts, and He will bring it out in the open. As He says,

يَوْمَ تُبْلَى السَّرَآئِرُ

(The Day when all the secrets will be (exposed and) examined. ) (86:9) They will be displayed and made known, as found in the Two Sahihs, where Ibn `Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

«يُنْصَبُ لِكُلِّ غَادِرٍ لِوَاءٌ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عِنْدَ اسْتِهِ بِقَدْرِ غَدْرَتِهِ، فَيُقَالُ: هَذِهِ غَدْرَةُ فُلَانِ ابْنِ فُلَان»

(On the Day of Resurrection a banner will be set up by his backside for every deceitful person, (whose size is) in accordance with the amount of his deceit. It be said, "This is the one who deceived so-and-so, the son of so-and-so.") Thus, what they used to plot in secret will be made public. Allah will humiliate them before all of His creation, and the Lord will say to them, in rebuke and reprimand;

أَيْنَ شُرَكَآئِىَ الَّذِينَ كُنتُمْ تُشَـقُّونَ فِيهِمْ

(Where are My (so-called) partners, those over which you caused so much discord) meaning, you fought and made enemies for their sake, so where are they now to help and save you

هَلْ يَنصُرُونَكُمْ أَوْ يَنتَصِرُونَ

(Can they help you or (even) help themselves) 26:93

فَمَا لَهُ مِن قُوَّةٍ وَلاَ نَاصِرٍ

(Then will (man) have no power, nor any helper.) 86:10 When evidence and proof is established against them, and the Word (of Allah) is justified against them, and they will be unable to give any excuse, realizing that escape is impossible, then

قَالَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْعِلْمَ

(Those who have been given the knowledge will say) who are the leaders in this world and the Hereafter and who know about the truth in this world and the Hereafter - will say,

إِنَّ الْخِزْىَ الْيَوْمَ وَالْسُّوءَ عَلَى الْكَـفِرِينَ

(Indeed it is a Day of disgrace and misery for the disbelievers.) meaning, today those who disbelieved in Allah and worshipped others who have no power either to benefit or to harm them are now surrounded by disgrace and punishment.

Malapetaka tersebut di atas merupakan azab dunia bagi mereka, sedangkan di akhirat Allah swt akan memberikan siksaan yang pedih dan mereka akan merasakan kehinaan yang tiada taranya. Kehinaan mereka digambarkan dengan keadaan mereka yang bingung, mencari sekutu-sekutu mereka yang dahulu pernah mengajak mereka untuk melakukan tipu daya. Mereka menyesal karena orang-orang yang dahulu mengajak mereka tidak lagi dapat memberikan dukungan kepada mereka untuk melepaskan diri mereka dari siksa Allah. Sebab pada saat itu, manusia tidak mempunyai kekuatan dan tidak pula ada yang dapat memberikan pertolongan.

Firman Allah:

Maka manusia tidak lagi mempunyai suatu kekuatan dan tidak (pula) ada penolong. (ath-thariq/86: 10)

Kemudian Allah swt menjelaskan bahwa pada hari kebangkitan, orang-orang yang telah diberi ilmu, yaitu orang-orang yang mengetahui dan mengikuti petunjuk-petunjuk wahyu dan yakin akan kebenaran hidayah yang diterimanya, serta meyakini keesaan Allah dan kerasulan Muhammad, akan tersenyum dengan penuh kepuasan. Mereka mengatakan bahwa kehinaan dan azab pada hari itu benar-benar ditimpakan kepada orang-orang kafir akibat mengingkari Allah, memusuhi para rasul-Nya, dan mendustakan akan terjadinya hari kebangkitan.

Firman Allah:

Maka pada hari ini, orang-orang yang berimanlah yang menertawakan orang-orang kafir, mereka (duduk) di atas dipan-dipan melepas pandangan. (al-Muthaffifin/83: 34-35)