• Lessons to be had from the fate of the disbelievers in the past who were stronger in number and strength.

• Repentance when facing the chastisement shall not avail the guilty.

• The disbelievers are the losers.

Al-Ghafir (Al-Mu’min) Verses 79 – 85

اللَّهُ الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَنْعَامَ لِتَرْكَبُوا مِنْهَا وَمِنْهَا تَأْكُلُونَ

God is He Who made for you the cattle that ye may ride on some of them, and of them ye may eat. (40:79)1

وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَنَافِعُ وَلِتَبْلُغُوا عَلَيْهَا حَاجَةً فِي صُدُورِكُمْ وَعَلَيْهَا وَعَلَى الْفُلْكِ تُحْمَلُونَ

And for you in them are other benefits, and that ye may realize thereon the need ye cherish in your breasts; and upon them and upon the ships ye are borne. (40:80)

وَيُرِيكُمْ آيَاتِهِ فَأَيَّ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ تُنْكِرُونَ

And He showeth you His Signs; which, then, of the Signs of God will ye deny2? (40:81)3

أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَيَنْظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ كَانُوا أَكْثَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَأَشَدَّ قُوَّةً وَآثَارًا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَمَا أَغْنَىٰ عَنْهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ

What! have they not travelled in the earth and seen how was the end of those before them? They were more (in number) than those and mightier in strength, and greater are their relics (of their power) in the earth, but availed them not what they were earning. (40:82)

فَلَمَّا جَاءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ فَرِحُوا بِمَا عِنْدَهُمْ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ وَحَاقَ بِهِمْ مَا كَانُوا بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِئُونَ

And when came unto them their apostles with clear proofs (of their truthfulness), exulted they in what they had with them of knowledge, but encompassed4them that which they were wont to scoff. (40:83)

فَلَمَّا رَأَوْا بَأْسَنَا قَالُوا آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ وَكَفَرْنَا بِمَا كُنَّا بِهِ مُشْرِكِينَ

But when they beheld Our punishment said they: “We believe in God alone and we deny what we used to associate with Him.” (40:84)

فَلَمْ يَكُ يَنْفَعُهُمْ إِيمَانُهُمْ لَمَّا رَأَوْا بَأْسَنَا سُنَّتَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي قَدْ خَلَتْ فِي عِبَادِهِ وَخَسِرَ هُنَالِكَ الْكَافِرُونَ

But shall not benefit them their faith when they had beheld Our punishment;5(such is) the procedure of God which hath indeed been in use concerning His servants; and then6the disbelievers have lost. (40:85)

Commentary

Verse 83

This applies to those who exult in their own knowledge of science, mocking at whatever is beyond their experimental sphere. (A.P.)

• 1. Refer to verses 6:143 & 16:5.
• 2. See verse 55:13 and its repetition in the surah.
• 3. Refer to verse 30:19, 35:44, 40:21, 40:82.
• 4. Surrounded them.
• 5. Getting into the grip of the divine order - creative or legislative. (A.P.).
• 6. When they get with the grip. (A.P.).