Al-Israa (The Night Journey)

58. “And there is not a town but We shall annihilate it before the Day of Resurrection or chastise it with a severe chastisement. That is written in the Book, (the Protected Table).”

The Arabic term /qaryah/ refers to the gathering place of people, whether it is a town or a village. The objective of the Qur’anic term /’al kit ab/ here is either the ‘Protected Tablet’ or the Qur’an in which the reasons for the fall and annihilation of the nations are explained.

Therefore, following our discussion about the pagans, which we noted concerning monotheism and resurrection in the foregoing verses, this noble verse, with an awakening tone, advises them and illustrates the end and the annihilation of this world in face of their rational vision, so that they may know that this world is a mortal one and the eternal world remains elsewhere, thus preparing themselves for the consequences of their behaviour.

The verse says:

“And there is not a town but We shall annihilate it before the Day of Resurrection or chastise it with a severe chastisement…”

Those who engage in evil acts and are oppressive, and the stiff-necked unruly, are to be wiped out by Allah’s punishment, and the rest will be annihilated by death due to the natural causes or by common accidents.

Eventually, this world will end and all will pave the path of annihilation. This is a decisively obvious principal which is registered in the Divine Book, (the ‘Protected Table’).

The verse remarks:

“…That is written in the Book, (the Protected Table).”