The Quran

Preface

أَلَم يَرَوا كَم أَهلَكنا مِن قَبلِهِم مِن قَرنٍ مَكَّنّاهُم فِي الأَرضِ ما لَم نُمَكِّن لَكُم وَأَرسَلنَا السَّماءَ عَلَيهِم مِدرارًا وَجَعَلنَا الأَنهارَ تَجري مِن تَحتِهِم فَأَهلَكناهُم بِذُنوبِهِم وَأَنشَأنا مِن بَعدِهِم قَرنًا آخَرينَ

Yusuf Ali

See they not how many of those before them We did destroy?-¹ generations We had established on the earth, in strength such as We have not given to you - for whom We poured out rain from the skies in abundance, and gave (fertile) streams flowing beneath their (feet): yet for their sins We destroyed them, and raised in their wake fresh generations (to succeed them).

Now comes the argument from history, looking backwards and forwards. If we are so short-sighted or arrogant as to suppose that we are firmly established on the earth, secure in our privileges, we are reminded of much greater nations in the past, who failed in their duty and were wiped out. In their fate we must read our own fate, if we fail likewise! But those without faith, instead of facing facts squarely “turn away therefrom.”