Ar-Room (The Romans)

42. “Say: ‘Travel in the land, then see how was the end of those before, most of them were polytheists.”

A purposeful travelling is recommended by Islam, and the protection of the instructive building is necessary for the future generations.

In order that people actually see with their eyes some lively evidences in connection with the appearance of corruption on the earth as the result of sin, the verse commands for travelling in the earth, and He tells the Prophet (S) as follows:

“Say: ‘Travel in the land, then see how was the end of those before, most of them were polytheists.”

You may see the ruined castles and palaces of those who used to live before you, watch their treasures which have been spoilt, study the strong nations who are scattered and their graves contain the rotten bones of their bodies.

You can see what was the end of their injustice, cruelty, sin, vice, and polytheism? You can see if they burnt the nests of some birds, how were the houses of these hunters destroyed? Yes, most of them were polytheists, and polytheism was the source of their mischief and caused them to be annihilated.

It is interesting that when the words in the former verses were about the bounties of Allah, at first the creation of man was mentioned and next to it the words were about his sustenance:

“Allah is He Who created you, then gave you sustenance…”,1

but in the verses under discussion, when it speaks about the Divine punishment, at first it points to the destruction of bounties as the result of sin, and then it refers to the destruction because of polytheism.

Its reason is that at the time of remittal the merit of creation is first and sustenance is next to it; but at the time of taking it back, the destruction of bounties is first and annihilation is next to it.

In regard to the fact that this Surah is a Meccan Surah and the Muslims were in minority at that time, the application of the Qur’anic sentence /’akθaruhum mušrikin/ (most of them were polytheists) may point to this matter that you should not fear of the polytheists who are in majority, because Allah has annihilated many large groups of such people in the past. It is also a severe warning unto the disobedient persons that they should travel in the earth and see the end of the former nations who were similar to them in action.