As-Sajdah 32:26 - Linguistic Miracle

Does it not guide them that We destroyed many generations before them, they walk in whose dwellings? Surely in that are signs. Will they not then listen?

This refers to the ruins of the destroyed nations that lay on the trade routes of Makkans such as:

1. Thamūd - located on the northern trade route of Makkah to Syria.

2. Sodom and Gomorrah - located near the dead sea, also along the trade routes towards the Levant

3. Possibly ʿĀd as well but since they were located in the southern Peninsula near Eastern Yemen and Western Oman.

Now these ruins are seen with the eyes. The reason why Allah says “ Will they not then

listen” instead of seeing, is because these ruins were located near trade routes that only

the members of caravans would see and they would tell their people back in Makkah about them. So the majority of people did not actually see them with their eyes, they only heard them from the select few merchants who would be a part of the caravans.

They have seen the ruins of the people with their eyes regarding whom they hear in the Qurʾān. We destroyed those nations - and you can see their destroyed ruins when they did what you are doing right now. The demonstrative pronoun that, is for the sake of ( تعظيم magnification). In that great

fact, are things that serve as signs that can guide you.

Secondly, there is a twofold emphasis placed inside the sentence “ Surely in that are

signs” which is a way of speech utilized in Arabic to address someone who denies what you are saying. There are great signs in those ruins, though you deny it.

But the demonstrative pronoun that can also be going back to the words “ while

they walk among their dwellings” and this is what I prefer. There are signs for you in the fact that you are walking in their dwellings, that can bring you to the truth, though you deny it. In verse 15, Allah describes the believers as

وَهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ

They do not seek greatness.

These Makkans used to hear about these destroyed nations in the Qurʾān as it describes them as being arrogant, oppressive, and fāsiq (the same word Allah uses for these disbelievers). They were the same as you in that they sought greatness and were arrogant. Yet here they are destroyed and desolate beneath your feet. Their homes empty, their memories wiped out, and their dwellings destroyed. Their pride led them to become lowly and worthless. They were arrogant and haughty yet they are now disgraced and cursed. You can see what became of their pride. This is a sign - a warning - to you. Pride begets disgrace. Arrogance leads to humiliation. Display

arrogance and you will be humiliated. Submit humbly to Allah and you will be honored.

We see this now with the Makkans who persecuted our prophet ﷺ . Abu Jahl and all his associates are now disgraced, and their graves at Badr have now become a desolate, worthless well. Not a day passes by since the past 1400 years, but they are disgraced and cursed at the tongues of the Muslims. While the prophet ﷺ and his companions, who submitted humbly to Allah, their mention and remembrance has been exalted for eternity.