Al-An'aam (The Cattle)

6. "Have they not considered how many a generation We destroyed before them, whom We had established in the earth (to the extent) that We have not established you, and We sent abundant (water down from) the sky upon them and made the rivers flow beneath them? Yet We destroyed them for their sins, and raised up after them another generation."

We must take an example from the history and fate of others.

"Have they not considered ..."

This style is one of the training methods of the Qur'an by which it states some factual and teaching stories.

The retribution of those who abuse the divine facilities given to them in this world is destruction.

"... How many a generation We destroyed before them....."

Besides the chastisement in the Hereafter, Allah punishes the sinners in the present world, too.

"... Yet We destroyed them for their sins....."

The powerful people should not think that they are always in comfort in the world. The Lord punishes them and substitutes some others in their place.

"... whom We had established in the earth (to the extent) that We have not established you, and We sent abundant (water down from) the sky upon them and made the rivers flow beneath them? ..."

Thus,. the cause of all inflictions are people's own deeds.

"... Yet We destroyed them for their sins, and raised up after them another generation."

The Qur'anic term /qarn/ is used for calling a community who had been utterly destroyed so that none of them remained after them¹ .

All people who live contemporarily are also called in Arabic /qarn/. They are usually a generation living a length of time about 60 years or 80 years or 100 years² .