Transliteration:( Wa darabal laahu masalan qaryatan kaanat aaminatam mutma'innatany yaaateehaa rizquhaa raghadam min kulli makaanin fakafarat bi an'umil laahi fa azaaqahal laahu libaasal joo'i walkhawfi bimaa kaanoo yasna'oon )
249. This verse is describing the verbal expressions of the infidels of Makkah. Although they had enjoyed peace and security as well as received sustenance without hard work, they were ungrateful to Allah Almighty and instead, rejected the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم .and opposed the Almighty
Thereafter, when the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم cursed them and a severe drought came upon them due to which they had to eat the flesh of the dead, and brought them under the control of the believers whose attack they had feared at all times.Â
This is the end result of all those who are ungrateful and unappreciative. It should be remembered that the bounties and blessings of Allah Almighty are constantly being bestowed upon the people of Makkah. Fertile lands have repeatedly experienced famine in which many people had died. But in this barren desert no news of human devastation due to famine has been heard. The famine during the time of the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم was due to their evil deeds.Â
Now sustenance reaches this land in such abundance that millions of pilgrims arriving in Makkah all receive a generous supply of food, fruit, eggs, etc. They also obtain Qurbani animals at reasonable prices which are brought in from other parts of the world. Imagine if all this supply were to remain in our lands for long periods would it not provide for the food of our people?
250. From this we learn that some sins, especially of ingratitude, bring about punishment in the world as well, but this is not the full punishment because this would be completed in the Hereafter, e.g. police lock-up is not the full punishment of the criminal. This would only begin after the court case.
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112. And Allah gives the example of a township (Makkah), it was secure and peaceful: its provision coming to it in abundance from every place, but it (its people) denied the favors of Allah. So Allah made it taste extreme hunger (famine) and fear, because of what they did. 113. There has come to them a Messenger from among themselves, but they denied him, so the torment seized them while they were wrongdoers.
This example refers to the people of Makkah, which had been secure, peaceful and stable, a secure sanctuary while men were being snatched away from everywhere outside of it. Whoever entered Makkah, he was safe, and he had no need to fear, as Allah said:
(And they say: “If we follow the guidance with you, we would be snatched away from our land.†Have We not established a secure sanctuary (Makkah) for them, to which are brought fruits of all kinds, a provision from Ourselves.) ﴿28:57﴾ Similarly, Allah says here:
(its provision coming to it in abundance) meaning, with ease and in plenty,
(from every place, but it (its people) denied the favors of Allah.) meaning, they denied the blessings of Allah towards them, the greatest of which was Muhammad being sent to them, as Allah said:
(Have you not seen those who have changed the favors of Allah into disbelief, and caused their people to dwell in the abode of destruction; Hell, in which they will burn, – and what an evil place to settle in!) (14:28-29). Hence Allah replaced their former blessings with the opposite, and said:
(So Allah made it taste extreme hunger (famine) and fear,) meaning, He inflicted it and made them taste of hunger after fruits of all kinds and provision in abundance from every place had been brought to it. This was when they defied the Messenger of Allah and insisted on opposing him, so he supplicated against them, asking Allah to send them seven years like the seven years of Yusuf (i.e., seven years of famine), and they were stricken with a year in which everything that they had was destroyed, and they ate `Alhaz’, which is the hair of the camel mixed with its blood when it is slaughtered.
(and fear). This refers to the fact that their sense of security was replaced with fear of the Messenger of Allah and his Companions after they had migrated to Al-Madinah. They feared the power and the attack of his armies, and they started to lose and face the destruction of everything that belonged to them, until Allah made it possible for His Messenger to conquer Makkah. This happened because of their evil deeds, their wrongdoing and their rejection of the Messenger that Allah sent to them from among themselves. He reminded them of this blessing in the Ayah:
(Indeed, Allah blessed the believers when He sent Messenger from among themselves to them.) (3:164) and,
(So have Taqwa of Allah! O men of understanding who have believed, Allah has indeed revealed to you a reminder (this Qur’an). (And has also sent to you) a Messenger.) ﴿65:10-11﴾ and:
(Similarly (as a blessing), We have sent a Messenger to you from among you, reciting Our Ayat to you, and purifying you, and teaching you the Book (the Qur’an) and the Hikmah (i.e. Sunnah).) Until
(and do not be ungrateful.) ï´¿2:151-152ï´¾ Allah changed the situation of the disbelievers and made it the opposite of what it had been, so they lived in fear after being secure, they were hungry after having plenty of provisions. After the believers lived in fear, Allah granted them security, giving them ample provisions after they lived in poverty, making them rulers, governors and leaders of mankind. This is what we say about the example that was given of the people of Makkah. It was also the opinion of Al-`Awfi and Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Qatadah, `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam, and Malik narrated it from Az-Zuhri as well. May Allah have mercy on them all.
There is no commentary by Abul Maududi available for this verse.
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