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and thus Arabs use it in a lot of senses, like harsh afflictions, plaque,
intensive snow and hail, idol, the temptation of Satan, and Divine
punishment.
The Qur’ānic sentence /bimā kānū yafsuqūn/ (for what they were
transgressing) states the cause of their painful punishment that was
transgression and disobedience from the command of Allah, and its application in
future form of the verb is an indication to the continuation of their ugly
deeds.
This meaning shows this fact that if those people stopped the continuation
of it and returned to the path of right, piety and purity, they would not he
involved in such a punishment and their past sins would be forgiven.
In this verse the manner of their painful punishment has not been explained,
and it only refers to the ruins of their afflicted and non-afflicted cities,
when it says:
“ And certainly We have left a clear sign of it for a people
who have sense.”
But the explanation of their punishment is referred to in Sura Hūd, No. 11,
verse 82 and Sura Al-’A‘rāf, No 7, verse 84, implying that at first a severe
earthquake turned their cities upside down and then a shower of stone rained on
them in a way that their bodies and their ruined cities and castles were buried
under it.
The application of the Qur’ānic phrase /’āyatan bayyinatan/ (a clear sign)
refers to the remaining of the city of ‘Sudūm’ which, according to the verses of
the Qur’ān, was located alongside the way of the caravans of the people of
Medina and Mecca and they could see it at the advent of Muhammad, the Prophet of
Islam (p.b.u.h.), as Sura Al-Hijr, No. 15, verse 76 says: “It is on a way (yet)
remaining.”, and Sura As-Sāffāt, No. 37, verse 137-138 says: “Verily you pass by
their (cities) by day,” “And by night; will you not ponder?”
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