Ghafir (The Forgiver)

82. Have they not traveled through the land and seen what was the end of those before them [and the manner of their perdition]? They were more in number than them and mightier in strength and in traces in the land; yet all that they used to earn availed them not.

One of the Qur’anic criticisms is failing to travel so as to acquire knowledge and experience. Disbelievers’ opposition against the Noble Prophet (S) stemmed from their vanity for their large number and might.

Thus, the Holy Qur’an says that God Almighty destroyed those mightier than them and one of the reasons lying behind the fall of civilizations is opposition against Prophets and turning away from Divine Commands.

Following the expression of Divine Omnipotence and reminding mankind of His Bounties, Prudence, and the orderly system of creation, the blessed Verse in question proceeds to warn disbelievers and remind them that those who deny Divine Signs and Verses and the Noble Prophet (S) should travel through the land and see the manner of their predecessors.

The blessed Verse reveals that the ruins of the cities of ‘Ad and Thamud were still visible at the time of the Revelation of the blessed Verse, since it is encouraged herein to travel and see them and perceive that those people who were superior to them in terms of might, valiance, and number failed to resist Divine Wrath and were entangled with torment.