Surah Fussilat 41:14

A Warning to the Disbelievers and a Reminder of the Story of `Ad and Thamud

Allah says: `Say, O Muhammad, to these idolators who disbelieve in the message of truth that you have brought: If you turn away from that which I have brought to you from Allah, then I warn you of the punishment of Allah like the punishment that the past nations suffered for disbelieving in the Messengers.'

(a Sa`iqah like the Sa`iqah which overtook `Ad and Thamud.) and other similar nations who did what they did,

(When the Messengers came to them, from before them and behind them) This is like the Ayah:

(And remember (Hud) the brother of `Ad, when he warned his people in Al-Ahqaf. And surely, there have passed away warners before him and after him) (46:21). which means that in the neighboring towns and cities, Allah sent Messengers who commanded the people to worship Allah Alone with no partner or associate, and they brought good news as well as warnings. They saw the punishment Allah sent upon His enemies, and the blessings which He bestowed upon His friends, yet despite all of this, they did not believe in them. On the contrary, they denied them and rejected them, and said:

(If our Lord had so willed, He would surely have sent down the angels.) meaning, if Allah were to send Messengers, they would be angels sent from His presence.

(So, indeed we disbelieve in that with which you have been sent.) means, `because you are a mere human; we will not follow you because you are just men like us.'

(As for `Ad, they were arrogant in the land without right.) means, they were arrogant, stubborn and disobedient.

(and they said: "Who is mightier than us in strength") They boasted of their physical strength, and power; they thought that this would protect them from Allah's punishment.

(See they not that Allah Who created them was mightier in strength than them.) means, do they not realize, when they are showing enmity, that He is the Almighty Who created all things and gave them whatever strength they have, and that His onslaught will be far greater This is like the Ayah:

(With Hands did We construct the heaven. Verily, We are able to extend the vastness of space thereof.) (51:47) They openly opposed the Almighty and denied His signs and disobeyed His Messenger. Allah said:

(So We sent upon them a Sarsar wind). Some said that this was a strongly blowing wind; others said that it was a cold wind. It was also said that it is the wind that makes a noise. The truth that it was all of these things, for it was a strong wind that was an apt punishment for their being deceived by their physical strength. It was also intensely cold, as Allah says:

(with a Sarsar wind!) (69:6), meaning a very cold wind. It also made a furious sound. Additionally, there is a famous river in the east which is called Sarsar because of the noise it makes as it flows.

(in days of calamity) means, consecutive days.

(seven nights and eight days in succession) (69: 7). This is like the Ayah:

(on a day of calamity, continuous) (54:19) i.e., the punishment began on a day which was of evil omen for them, and this evil omen continued for them,

(seven nights and eight days in succession) (69:7) until they were destroyed, every last one of them, and their humiliation in this world was joined to their punishment in the Hereafter. Allah says:

(that We might give them a taste of disgracing torment in this present worldly life. But surely the torment of the Hereafter will be more disgracing.) meaning, more humiliating for them.

(and they will never be helped.) means, in the Hereafter, just as they were never helped in this world, and they had no one who could protect them from Allah or save them from His punishment.

(And as for Thamud, We showed them the path of truth) Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, Abu Al-Aliyah, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Qatadah, As-Suddi and Ibn Zayd said, "We explained to them. " Ath-Thawri said, "We called them." Allah's saying;

(but they preferred blindness to guidance;) means, `We showed them the truth and made it clear to them through the words of their Prophet Salih, but they opposed him and rejected him, and they slaughtered the she-camel of Allah which He had made a sign for them of the truth of their Prophet.'

(so the Sa`iqah of disgracing torment seized them) means, Allah sent upon them the Sayhah, earthquake, intense humiliation, punishment and torment.

(because of what they used to earn) means, because of their disbelief and rejection.

(And We saved those who believed) means, `We saved them from among them, and no harm came to them;' Allah saved them along with His Prophet Salih, peace be upon him, because of their fear of Allah.

Ayat ini menerangkan perintah Allah kepada Nabi Muhammad agar menyeru kepada orang-orang kafir untuk beriman kepada Allah yang telah menciptakan langit dan bumi dan apa yang ada pada keduanya. Jika mereka tidak menerima ajakan itu dan berpaling, Rasulullah diperintahkan untuk mengingatkan mereka tentang azab yang akan ditimpakan Allah kepada setiap orang yang ingkar kepada-Nya. Di antara azab yang pernah ditimpakan kepada orang-orang yang ingkar ialah suara keras yang mengguntur dari langit dan memusnahkan semua yang dikenainya, seperti yang pernah ditimpakan kepada kaum 'Ad, kaum Samud, penduduk Aikah, dan sebagainya. Malapetaka itu menimpa mereka karena mengingkari seruan rasul yang diutus kepada mereka dan mengabaikan peringatan para rasul itu. Rasulullah menambahkan bahwa jika mereka tidak ingin ditimpa malapetaka seperti itu, maka ikutilah seruan yang disampaikannya dan agar hanya menyembah Allah, Tuhan Yang Maha Esa, tidak mempersekutukan-Nya dengan sesuatu apa pun.

Seruan Rasulullah itu ditanggapi orang-orang musyrik dengan sikap angkuh dan sombong. Mereka mengingkarinya dengan mengatakan bahwa sekiranya Allah hendak mengutus para rasul kepada manusia, tentu Dia tidak akan mengutus manusia seperti Nabi Muhammad. Akan tetapi, Allah akan mengutus orang-orang yang mempunyai kelebihan dari manusia biasa, mempunyai kekuatan gaib, sanggup mengabulkan langsung segala yang diminta orang-orang yang diserunya, seperti malaikat, jin dan sebagainya. Menurut mereka, rasul yang diangkat dari manusia biasa tidak akan bisa memerkenankan permintaan orang-orang yang diserunya karena tidak mempunyai kelebihan apa pun. Sementara, menurut mereka, Allah belum berkehendak mengutus rasul itu. Itulah sebabnya mereka mengingkari kerasulan Nabi Muhammad.

Diriwayatkan oleh al-Baihaqi dalam kitab " Ad-Dalail" dan Ibnu Asakir dari Jabir bin 'Abdullah. Ia mengatakan bahwa Abu Jahal dan para pemimpin kaum Quraisy berkata, "Sesungguhnya kurang jelas bagi kita apa yang disampaikan oleh Muhammad itu, jika kamu menemukan seorang ahli sihir, tenung, dan syair, maka hendaklah ia berbicara dengannya, dan datang kepada kita untuk menerangkan maksud yang disampaikan Muhammad saw itu." 'Utbah bin Rabi'ah berkata, "Demi Allah, aku benar-benar telah mendengar sihir, tenung, dan syair. Aku benar-benar memahami rumpun engkau hai Muhammad adalah orang yang paling baik dalam rumpun keluarga Abdul Muththalib?" Muhammad tidak menjawab. 'Utbah berkata lagi, "Mengapa engkau mencela tuhan-tuhan kami dan menganggap kami sesat? Jika engkau menghendaki wanita, pilihlah olehmu sepuluh wanita yang paling cantik yang kamu kehendaki dari suku Quraisy ini. Jika engkau menghendaki harta, kami kumpulkan harta itu sesuai dengan yang kamu perlukan."

Setelah Rasulullah mendengar ucapan 'Utbah, beliau membaca Surah Fushshilat ini sejak permulaan ayat sampai kepada ayat ini, yang menerangkan malapetaka yang pernah ditimpakan kepada kaum 'Ad, dan Samud. Mendengar ayat yang dibacakan Rasulullah saw, Utbah diam seribu bahasa, lalu pulang ke rumahnya, tidak langsung kepada kaumnya. Tatkala kaumnya melihat 'Utbah dalam keadaan demikian, mereka mengatakan bahwa 'Utbah telah kena sihir Muhammad. Lalu mereka mencari 'Utbah dan berkata kepadanya, "Ya 'Utbah, engkau tidak datang kepada kami itu adalah karena engkau telah kena sihir." Maka 'Utbah marah dan bersumpah tidak akan berbicara lagi dengan Muhammad, kemudian ia berkata, "Demi Allah, aku benar-benar telah berbicara dengannya, lalu ia menjawab dengan satu jawaban yang menurut pendapatku jawaban itu bukan syair, bukan sihir, dan bukan pula tenung. Tatkala ia sampai kepada ucapan: petir yang seperti menimpa kaum 'Ad dan Samud, aku pun diam seribu bahasa. Aku benar-benar mengetahui bahwa Muhammad itu, apabila ia mengatakan sesuatu, ia tidak berdusta, dan ia takut kepada azab yang akan menimpa itu."

Sebagaimana diketahui bahwa 'Utbah termasuk pemuka Quraisy dan orang yang berpengetahuan luas di antara mereka. Di samping seorang sastrawan ia juga mengetahui seluk-beluk sihir dan tenung yang dipercayai orang pada waktu itu. Kebungkaman 'Utbah itu menunjukkan bahwa hatinya telah beriman kepada Rasulullah, tetapi karena pengaruh nafsu dan kedudukan, maka ia mengingkari suara hatinya. Demikian pula halnya dengan kebanyakan orang-orang musyrik. Hatinya telah beriman dan ia telah takut kepada azab yang akan ditimpakan kepadanya seandainya ia tidak beriman, tetapi mereka tetap tidak beriman karena khawatir akan dikucilkan oleh kaumnya. Oleh karena itu, mereka mencari-cari alasan untuk menutupi hati mereka dengan mengatakan bahwa mustahil Allah mengangkat seorang rasul dari golongan manusia biasa. Jika Allah mengangkat rasul, tentu rasul itu dari golongan malaikat.