The Holy Quran Text. Translation & Commentary(the Example Commentary in Brief)(volume Four)

A Hint To the Story of Noah & Abraham

VERSE NO.17ِ19

On account of the general test and trial of Man, a mention is made of Noah and Abraham, the two Arch prophets of God who were no exception in God's general test. They both were put to trial by their Lord, and suffered a great deal of hardship and hazards. But they passed their examinations so well and with excellent marks, and became great examples of being patient in the hardship and having their trust on their Lord. Noah stood firm among the enemies of God and preached his people continuously during his wonderful long life of 950 years!:- ``And We sent Noah to his people, and he tarried among them a thousand years save fifty AAM. Then the Flood seized them while they were oppressors.''

*****

As to the meaning of AAM, almost all the translators of Qura"n have either ignored to mention the word, ``AAM'' or have taken it to mean, ``YEAR''. But the Arabic dictionaries have translated it to, ``YEAR'' as well as to a period which is less than a yearِa period which consists of only one summer and one winter, that are successive. On the other hand, the Arabic, ``SANAT'' has always been translated to, ``YEAR'' by all.

TRANSLATOR'S NOTE

During his long life of hardship and trouble, Noah never looked to be tired or in despair. Eventually, when he came to the conclusion that there were no more among the heathens to join him in his folk of believers, he asked for God's judgement, and then all the oppressors were seized by the flood, and their nasty and shameful lives were ended.

Following an abstract of Noah's story, the reference has been made to another Arch Prophet of God, who is an everlasting example [ 616 ] in faith, virtue, sincerity, and patience:- He admonished his people and said to them:- ``Worship Allah and beware of Him.''

Here two practical religious programmes have been proposed by the prophet that will guarantee the felicity of Man. That is to worship Allah the only one and true God, without associating any partners to Him, and also to be on guard against doing evil deeds.

What of those things or persons that people worship apart from God? They are nothing more than falsehood, and some calumnies that they have forged, which are of no help to Man at all. Their gods have no power to sustain any one or even to feed themselves:- ``Verily those whom you worship apart from Allah, have no power to sustain you. So seek sustenance from Allah and be thankful to Him.''

In other word, commit yourself to the care of Allah and put your trust in Him. Seek from Him all that is needed for your physical or spiritual progress, and prepare yourself for your everlasting life, in the world to come. Do not doubt that Allah can, and will give His servant all that he may need.

قُلْ سِيرُوا فِى الاَْرْضِ فَانْظُرُوا كَيْفَ بَدَأَ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ اللهُ يُنشِىءُ النَّشْأَةَ الاْخِرَةَ إِنَّ اللهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْء قَدِيرٌ(( 20 ))

20- SAY:- ``TRAVEL THROUGH THE EARTH, AND SEE HOW HAS HE ORIGINATED THE CREATION, THEN ALLAH WILL CREATE THE LAST CREATION (AS HE CREATED THE FIRST), FOR ALLAH HAS POWER ON (DOING) ALL-THINGS.''

يُعَذِّبُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَرْحَمُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُقْلَبُونَ(( 21 ))

21- HE PUNISHES WHOM HE WILL, AND WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM HE WILL, AND TO HIM YOU SHALL RETURN.

[ 617 ]

وَمَا أَنْتُمْ بِمُعْجِزِينَ فِى الاَْرْضِ وَلاَ فِى السَّمَاءِ وَمَا لَكُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللهِ مِنْ وَلِىّ وَلاَ نَصِير(( 22 ))

22- AND YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FRUSTRATE (GOD'S PLANS) IN THE EARTH, NOR IN THE SKY, AND THERE IS NOT ANY PROTECTOR OR HELPER FOR YOU APART FROM ALLAH.

وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِ اللهِ وَلِقَائِهِ أُوْلَئِكَ يَئِسُوا مِنْ رَّحْمَتِى وَأُوْلَئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ(( 23 ))

23- AND THOSE WHO DISBELIEVED THE SIGNS OF ALLAH AND HIS VISIT, THEY HAVE DESPAIRED OF MY MERCY, AND FOR THEM IS A PAINFUL PUNISHMENT.

THE COMMENTARY THOSE ABANDONED TO DESPAIR

VERSE NO.20ِ23

The argument goes on about the Resurrection of Man. It is a style of Qura"n to pause on a critical point of a story and then apply to some conclusions. The previous verse (NO.19) was encouraging men to travel mentally through the earth, and see how Allah has originated the creation, and how He concludes and then renews it.

Then here in the above verse (NO.20), the Guide Book of Allah bids us to continue our travel through the earth physically, in order to study God's creation, and the past and present of Man, and the causes of their fortune and misfortune. Such a study may lead us to the gates of the life to come, which already exists beyond this material world of us:-

``Say; travel through the earth and see how has He originated the creation, and then Allah will create the last creation, as He has done the first; for He has power to do all things.''

[ 618 ]

The successive two verses will prove the possibility of the Resurrection and the life in the world to come. Proofs can be found for the oneness of God by the study of Man's Internal and External world. So is the case with the matter of Resurrection that can be proved in the same way.

In other word, if we travel through the earth physically, we can see many wonders of creation that will astonish our minds, and attract our attention and admiration. Then if we open our eyes, we can see wonders upon wonders, each of which is a clear sign of the Unity and Oneness of the Creator. Then if we travel through the earth spiritually and with a keen sight and through, we soon shall come to know that each green leaf is a great book, the pages of which are all filled with strange miracles of God, and the wonders of His creation. Then from the known we can easily know the unknown.

Then the verses apply to one of the main problems of Resurrection Day; and that is the Mercy and Punishment of God:- ``He punishes whom He will, and He will have Mercy on whom He will, and to him you shall return.''

Although God's Mercy will always take precedence of His wrath, here in this verse, God's punishment has been mentioned before His Mercy! This might be due to the sentence being in a threatening mode. It also may be taken that Punishment and Mercy here are mentioned in their general sense of meanings, which then they will include the Punishment and Mercy in this world, as well as that of the life to come.

فَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِ إِلاَّ أَنْ قَالُوا اقْتُلُوهُ أَوْ حَرِّقُوهُ فَأَنجَاهُ اللهُ مِنَ النَّارِ إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لاَيَات لِّقَوْم يُؤْمِنُونَ(( 24 ))

24- AND THE ANSWER OF ABRAHAM'S PEOPLE WAS NOTHING EXCEPT THAT THEY SAID; KILL HIM, OR BURN HIM! THEN [ 619 ]

ALLAH RESCUED HIM FROM THE FIRE. VERILY IN THAT THERE ARE SIGNS FOR A PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE.

وَقَالَ إِنَّمَا اتَّخَذْتُمْ مِّنْ دُونِ اللهِ أَوْثَاناً مَّوَدَّةَ بَيْنِكُمْ فِى الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ثُمَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَكْفُرُ بَعْضُكُمْ بِبَعْض وَيَلْعَنُ بَعْضُكُمْ بَعْضاً وَمَأْوَاكُمُ النَّارُ وَمَا لَكُمْ مِّنْ نَّاصِرِينَ(( 25 ))

25- AND HE SAID:- ``YOU HAVE ONLY TAKEN SOME IDOLS, APART FROM ALLAH, TO BE A CAUSE OF MUTUAL LOVE BETWEEN YOU IN THE LIFE OF THIS WORLD; THEN IN THE RESURRECTION DAY, SOME OF YOU WILL DENY SOME OTHER, AND SOME OF YOU WILL CURSE SOME OTHER, AND YOUR ABODE SHALL BE THE FIRE, AND YOU WILL HAVE NONE OF THE HELPERS.

فَآمَنَ لَهُ لُوطٌ وَقَالَ إِنِّى مُهَاجِرٌ إِلَى رَبِّى إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ(( 26 ))

26- THEN LOT BELIEVED IN HIM, AND SAID:- ``I WILL EMIGRATE TOWARDS MY LORD, THAT HE IS EXALTED IN MIGHT, ALL-WISE.''

وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ إِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَجَعَلْنَا فِى ذُرِّيَّتِهِ النُّبُوَّةَ وَالْكِتَابَ وَآتَيْنَاهُ أَجْرَهُ فِى الدُّنْيَا وَإِنَّهُ فِى الاْخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ(( 27 ))

27- AND WE GRANTED HIM ISAAC AND JACOB, AND BESTOWED ON HIS DESCENDANTS PROPHETHOOD AND BOOK. AND WE GAVE HIM HIS REWARD IN THIS WORLD, AND IN THE WORLD TO COME HE WILL BE OF THE RIGHTEOUS.

[ 620 ]

THE COMMENTARY THE ANSWER OF THOSE INDULGED IN PRIDE, TO ABRAHAM

VERSE NO.24ِ27 Abraham gave his reasons to prove Monotheism, Resurrection, and Prophethood; but his proud and cruel people answered him by the logic of tyrants, which is force majeure, and use of Satanic Power:- ``The answer of Abraham's people was nothing except that they said:- ``Kill him! Or burn him!'' They cast him into a huge Fire but his Lord saved him from the Fire. (We have given more detail about this incident in S-21:59ِ67)

Abraham criticized the religion of his people, saying that:-

``You have only taken some carved stones, (idols) apart from Allah, for your worship. You think these idols are a cause of mutual love between you in the life of this world, but in the life to come some of you will deny some other and even some of you will curse some others! These false gods of yours can neither be of any help to you nor of any harm. Fie upon you and upon the gods that you worship apart from Allah. Don't you ever want to understand!?''

Their logic was to burn Abraham in the Fire, and they did cast him in a hell of fire but Abraham's Lord saved His servant and turned the fire into a flower-garden for Abraham.

How can the plot of evil-doers harm the Man of God who is always with God and God is always with him. In next verse, it is pointed to the faith of Lot and emigration of Abraham or both:- ``Then Lot believed in him and said:- ``I will emigrate towards my Lord, that He is Exalted in might, All-wise.''

[ 621 ]

Lot was a nephew of Abraham who was an apostle himself. He apprehended Abraham's doctrine and adhered to his teaching, and accepted the voluntary exile with him, leaving Chaldaee for old Syria, a part of which was the present Palestine.

In the last verse, four of God's blessings and Graces that are bestowed upon Abraham, will prove that the good end belongs to the righteous who avoid evil:-

He was given worthy and righteous children and offsprings among whom there were great prophets. God bestowed on his descendants prophethood and Book. God gave him reward in this world.

God has made him of the righteous in the next world:-

``And We granted him Isaac and Jacob and bestowed on his descendants prophethood and Book....''

Isaac was Abraham's son, and Jacob was his grandson. Abraham had two sons, named Ishmael and Isaac, who became the fountain head of prophecy and revelation. Mohammad Mostafa (SA), our dear prophet is also from the progeny of Ishmael.

وَلُوطاً إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الْفَاحِشَةَ مَا سَبَقَكُمْ بِهَا مِنْ أَحَد مِّنَ الْعَالَمِينَ(( 28 ))

28- AND LOT, WHEN HE SAID TO HIS PEOPLE:- ``YOU COMMIT SUCH INDECENCY IN WHICH NO ONE IN THE WORLDS HAS PRECEDED YOU.''

أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الرِّجَالَ وَتَقْطَعُونَ السَّبِيلَ وَتَأْتُونَ فِى نَادِيكُمُ الْمُنكَرَ فَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِ إِلاَّ أَنْ قَالُوا ائْتِنَا بِعَذَابِ اللهِ إِنْ كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ(( 29 ))

[ 622 ]

29- DO YOU COME TO MEN (FOR LUSTS), AND CUT THE WAY (OF MAN'S GENERATION), AND DO EVIL IN YOUR GATHERINGS!?

THEN THE ANSWER OF HIS PEOPLE WAS NOT, EXCEPT THAT THEY SAID; BRING US THE PUNISHMENT OF ALLAH IF YOU ARE TRUTHFULS.

قَالَ رَبِّ انصُرْنِى عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْمُفْسِدِينَ(( 30 ))

30- HE SAID:- ``MY LORD! HELP ME AGAINST THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CORRUPTORS.''

THE COMMENTARY THE OBSTINATES, WITH CONTAMINATED SKIRT

VERSE NO.28ِ30

Following a brief of the story of Abraham, now the immediate reference is to an episode of Lot's:- ``And remember Lot when he said to his people; You commit such indecency in which no one in the worlds has preceded you.'' The verse implies that they were pederasts and had sexual relations with males, which is against the laws of nature. In other word, they were cutting the ways of Man's generation and begetting children.

They were so shameless, that committed their horrible indecency and heinous sin openly and practised it publicly! What a degradation and abasement for Man, and how near to a beast will this shameful lead.

[ 623 ]

So, Lot admonished and warned his people but of no use, and they insisted upon the hateful act, and their answer to Lot was only; bring us the punishment of God if you are truthful. What else could the prophet of God do then? With a sad heart, and a tearful eye, he prayed to his Lord, saying:-

``My Lord! Help me against the people who are corruptors of themselves, as well as the others.'' God answered his servant, and next day none of the corruptors could move on the earth! And so was the punishment of God.

THE CALAMITY OF HOMOSEXUALITY

Homosexuality or eroticism for one of the same sex, is among the worsts of Moral Perversions; which is a main source of many corruptions in Man's society. Male and femal are created so that they naturally find comfort and relief of mental distress, through the love of their opposite sex. Therefore, the abnormal sexual inclination will soon result in bad psychological diseases, and to continue with it will end in a painful destiny and sorrowful Spiritual and Physical death. Such an abnormal relation will ruin the nerves, destroy the will, and waste the personality of victim, particularly if he is a boy. The homosexual parents can never become a good father or mother for their children. This is why God has strictly forbidden the heinous sin, and condemns to death he who commits such a horrible crime.

وَلَمَّا جَاءَتْ رُسُلُنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ بِالْبُشْرَى قَالُوا إِنَّا مُهْلِكُوا أَهْلِ هَذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ إِنَّ أَهْلَهَا كَانُوا ظَالِمِينَ(( 31 ))

31- AND WHEN OUR MESSENGERS (THE ANGELS) CAME TO ABRAHAM WITH GLAD-TIDINGS. THEY SAID:- ``WE ARE TO DESTROY THE PEOPLE OF THIS TOWN, (POINTING AT SODOM& GOMORAH) THAT THE TOWNSFOLK HAVE BEEN OPPRESSORS.''

[ 624 ]

قَالَ إِنَّ فِيهَا لُوطاً قَالُوا نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ فِيهَا لَنُنَجِّيَنَّهُ وَأَهْلَهُ إِلاَّ امْرَأَتَهُ كَانَتْ مِنَ الْغَابِرِينَ(( 32 ))

32- HE SAID:- ``BUT LOT IS IN IT.'' THEY SAID:- ``WE KNOW BETTER WHO ARE IN IT. WE WILL SAVE HIM AND HIS FOLK, EXCEPT HIS WIFE. SHE LAGGED BEHIND.

وَلَمَّا أَنْ جَاءَتْ رُسُلُنَا لُوطاً سِىءَ بِهِمْ وَضَاقَ بِهِمْ ذَرْعاً وَقَالُوا لاَ تَخَفْ وَلاَ تَحْزَنْ إِنَّا مُنَجُّوكَ وَأَهْلَكَ إِلاَّ امْرَأَتَكَ كَانَتْ مِنَ الْغَابِرِينَ(( 33 ))

33- AND WHEN OUR MESSENGERS CAME TO LOT, HE BECAME DISTRESSED AND DISTURBED (BY SEEING THEM). BUT THEY SAID (TO LOT):- ``FEAR NOT, AND NEITHER GRIEVE, WE WILL SAVE YOU AND YOUR FOLK, EXCEPT YOUR WIFE. SHE LAGGED BEHIND. (WITH THOSE WHO WERE PUNISHED)

إِنَّا مُنزِلُونَ عَلَى أَهْلِ هَذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ رِجْزاً مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ (( 34 ))

34- WE SHALL SEND DOWN UPON THE FOLK OF THIS TOWN A CALAMITY FROM THE SKY, BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN DEBAUCHERS.

وَلَقَد تَّرَكْنَا مِنْهَا آيَةً بَيِّنَةً لِّقَوْم يَعْقِلُونَ(( 35 ))

35- AND VERILY WE LEFT OUT OF IT A CLEAR SIGN FOR A PEOPLE WHO CARE TO UNDERSTAND.

[ 625 ]

THE COMMENTARY THE DESTINY OF DEFILED PEOPLE

VERSE NO.31ِ35

Finally Allah answered the prayer of Hid servant Lot, and the decree for a dreadful and heavy punishment of the defiled people was issued. The angels whose mission was to punish the homosexual non-believers; in their way to Sodom and Gomorrah paid a visit to HAZRAT ABRAHAM, in irder to give him the good news of having a son in that old age he was! When they told the Shaikh of Prophets their destinations, he showed anxiety for Lot and some other believers who were striving hard against devil in that damned land:-

``Abraham said to the angels:- ``But Lot is in there.''

They said:- ``We know better who are in it. We will save him and his folk, except his wife.'' When Abraham said so to the angels, possibily he should have thought that God would not destroy a people among whom there lives an apostle, and several true believers. But the angel assured him that they knew well the situation of the towns and that, who was who, in there. When the angels of God went to Lot, he became annoyed and distressed, but soon the angels consoled him and told him not to be afraid, nor grieve, that they would rescue him and his followers, and then punish the sinners.

When Lot and his folk were delivered; a calamity from the heaven seized the sinful people. It began with a rain of brimstone, something like a volcanic eruption followed by an earthquake which overwhelmed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

(We have written this incident in a greater detail in volume three of our Book, S 11-Page-188ِ198):- ``And verily we left out of it a clear sign for a people who care to understand.

[ 626 ]

Allameh YUSUF ALI, has written in his commentary, here, that the whole tract on which the cities were situated at the bank of Dead Sea, which Arabs call the SEA OF LOT (BAHR-AL-LUT) is at present covered with Sulphurous salts, and is even now deadly to animals and plants.

*****

SODOM & GOMORAH, SISTERS OF POMPEII & HERCULANIUM ``THE ERUPTION OF MOUNT VESUVIUS''

INTRODUCTORY:

``NOTHING WAS TO BE HEARD BUT THE SHRIEKS OF WOMEN, THE SCREAMS OF CHILDREN, AND THE CRIES OF MEN!''

The story of the people of Lot in the Sodom and Gomorah, is somehow similar to that of POMPEII and HERCULANIUM, that were buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius some two thousand years ago.

Pompeii a beautiful flourishing city, a port and a popular resort, and ancient city of campania Italy, 14m southeast of NAPLE, and immediately southeast of mount vesuvius. Herculanium was also a very beautiful city of fine villas at its western base.

Mount Vesuvius was about six miles southeast of NAPLES on the eastern shore of the BAY OF NAPLES. It was a richly cultivated mountain covered with very fertile vineyards and surrounded by cities and towns.

On August 24, in the year 79 A.D., a series of earthquakes culminated in violent explosion. POMPEII was buried under firry cinders, smoking stones, and burning ashes. At HERCULONEUM, these falling substances mixed with water and hardened into porous rocks which covered the city to an average depth of 18 to 20 feet.

One of the survived inhabitants of the town was named GAIUS [ 627 ] PLINIUS, whom today is called PLINY THE YOUNGER. He was 18 years old when the volcanic Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried POMEII and HERCULONEUM, which were two of the most beautiful cities inthe Roman Empire.

Some years later PLINY THE YOUNGER wrote his graphic account of the catastrophe in two letters to his friend TACITUS, the Roman Historian. In these letters is an ideal report by an observer of the calamity, and the second is a model account by an eye witness. It has all the dramatic elements that accompany disasters.

The religious leaders felt that these cities were chosen for destruction because they had been centers of luxury and vice. (I MYSELF, PREDICTED THE FALL OF ABADAN & KHORAMSHAHR SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE, WHEN I MADE A SPEECH FOR A GREAT AUDIENCE, SEEING THE TOWNS A CENTER OF LUXURY & VICE. TRANSLATOR)

Pliny himself believed that the end had come, and indeed in one sense it had, because untold number of people perished in a night.

HERCULONEUM remained buried until 1709, and POMPEII, until 1748. Slowly over the years the cities have been excavated. A magnificent library, precious marble statues, luxurious villas, paintings still perfect in colour have been reclaimed from the layers of ashes and lava that preserved them. Even the dice that were being thrown, and the bread that was being baked on that fatal day have been brought to light, and so a disaster that wreaked death and destruction in bygone centuries has become the source of much of our knowledge of Roman life and art.

THE LETTER OF PLINY TO TACITUS, ABOUT THE ERUPTION OF MOUNT VESUVIUS

The letter which, in compliance with your request, I wrote to you, concerning the death of my uncle (PLINY THE ELDER) has raised, it seems, your curiosity to know what terrors and dangers attended me while I continued at Misenum; (MISENO NORTHWEST OF THE BAY OF NAPLES) for there I think the account in my former letter broke off, though my shocked soul recoils, my tongue shall tell.

[ 628 ]

My uncle having left us, I continued the employment which prevented my going with him, till it was time to bathe, after which I went to supper, and then fell into a short and unquiet sleep. There had been, during many days before, some shocks of an earthquake, which the less alarmed us as they are frequent in Campania. They were so particularly violent that night, that they not only shook everything about us, but seemed, indeed, to threaten total destruction. My mother flew to my chamber, where she found me rising in order to awaken her. We went out to a small court belonging to the house, which separated the sea from the buildings.

As I was at that time but eighteen years of age, I know not whether I should call my behaviour, in this perilous conjuncture, courage or rashness. I took up LIVY and amused myself with turning over that author, and even making extracts from him, as if I had been perfectly at my ease. While we were in this situation, a friend of my uncle's, who was just come from Spain to pay him a visit, joined us and observing me sitting by my mother with a book in my hand reproved her patience, and my security. Nevertheless, I still went on with my author. It was now morning, but the light was exceedingly faint and languid. The buildings all around us tottered. Though we stood upon open ground, the place was narrow and confined and there was no remaining without imminent danger. We therefore resolved to leave the town.

The people followed us in the utmost consternation, and as to a mind distracted with terror, every suggestion seems more prudent than its ownِPressed in great crowds about us in our way out. Being advanced at a convenient distance from the houses, we stood still, in the midst of a most hazardous and tremendous scene. The chariots, which we had ordered to be drawn out, were so agitated backward and forward, though upon the most level ground, that we could not keep them steady, even supporting them with large stones. The sea seemed to roll back upon itself, and to be driven from its banks by the convulsive motion of the earth. It is certain at least, the shore was considerably enlarged, and several sea animals were left upon it. On the other side, a black and dreadful cloud bursting with an igneous [ 629 ]

serpentine vapor darted out a long train of fire, resembling flashes of lightning, but much larger. Upon this our Spanish friend, whom I mentioned above, addressed himself to my mother and me, with great warmth and earnestness:- ``If your mother and your uncle are safe, your uncle certainly wishes you may be so too; but if he perished, it was his desire, no doubt, that you both might survive him. Why do you then delay your escape a moment? We could never think of our own safety, we replied, while we were uncertain of his; upon which our friend left us, and withdrew from the danger with the utmost precipitation.''

Soon afterwards, the cloud seemed to descend and cover the whole ocean; as indeed, it entirely hid the Island of Caprea (CAPRI), and the promontory of Misenum. My mother conjured me to make my escape at any rate, which as I was young I might easily effect. As for herself, she said her age and corpulence rendered all attempts of that sort impossible. However she willingly meet death, if she could have the satisfaction of seeing that she was not the occasion of mine. But I absolutely refused to leave her, and taking her by the hand, I led her on. She complied with great reluctance, and not without many reproaches to herself for being the occasion of retarding my flight.

The ashes now began to fall upon us, thought in no great quantity. I turned my head and observed behind us a thick smoke, which came rolling after us like a torrent. I proposed, which we had yet any light, to turn out of the high road, lest she should be pressed to death in the dark, by the crowd that followed us.

We had scarcely stepped out of the path, when darkness overspread us, not like that of a cloudy night there is no moon, but of a room when it is shut up and all the lights extinct. Nothing then was to be heard but the shrieks of women, the screams of children and the cries of men. Some were calling for their children, others for their parents, others for their husbands. They could only distinguish each other by their voices. One lamented his own fate, another that of his family; some wished to die, from the very fear of dying; some lifted their hands to gods; but greater part imagined that the last and eternal night was come, which was to destroy both the gods and the world [ 630 ]

together. Among these there were some who augmented the real terrors by imaginary ones, and made the frightened multitude falsely believe that Misenum was actually in flames. At length, a glimmering light appeared, which we imagined to be rather the forerunner of an approaching burst of flames (as in fact it was), than the return of day. However the fire fell at a distance from us. Then again we were immersed in thick darkness, and a heavy shower of ashes rained upon us, which we were obliged every now and then to shake off, otherwise we should have been overwhelmed and buried in the heap.

At last, this terrible darkness was dissipated by degrees like a cloud of smoke. The real day returned and even the sun appeared though very faintly and as when an eclipse is coming on. We returned to Misenum and refreshed ourselves, and passed an anxious night between hope and fear for the earth still continued to shake. However my mother and I notwithstanding the danger we passed, and that which still threatened us, had no intention of leaving Misenum till we should receive some account of my uncle. Farewell.

FROM: GROLIER CLASSICS & INTERNATIONAL ENCYCLOPIA TRANSLATOR'S NOTE

وَإِلَى مَدْيَنَ أَخَاهُمْ شُعَيْباً فَقَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللهَ وَارْجُوا الْيَوْمَ الاْخِرَ وَلاَ تَعْثَوْا فِى الاَْرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ (( 36 ))

36- AND TO MEDIAN (WE SENT) THEIR BROTHER SHUAIB. THEN HE SAID:- ``O, MY PEOPLE! WORSHIP ALLAH, AND HOPE FOR THE LAST DAY, AND MAKE NO MISCHIEF IN THE LAND THROUGH CORRUPTION.''

فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الرَّجْفَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا فِى دَارِهِمْ جَاثِمِينَ(( 37 ))

37- THEY BELIED HIM. SO AN EARTHQUAKE SEIZED THEM AND [ 631 ]

IN THE MORNING THEY WERE LAID IN THEIR HOUSES UPSIDE DOWN. (MOTIONLESS)

وَعَاداً وَثَمُودَ وَقَدْ تَبَيَّنَ لَكُمْ مِّنْ مَّسَاكِنِهِمْ وَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ فَصَدَّهُمْ عَنِ السَّبِيلِ وَكَانُوا مُسْتَبْصِرِينَ(( 38 ))

38- AND طD, AND THAMUD; IT HAS BEEN CLEAR TO YOU FROM (THE RUINS OF) THEIR HOMES. AND SATAN ADORNED FOR THEM THEIR DEEDS, AND BARRED THEM FROM THE WAY, WHILE THEY COULD SEE.

وَقَارُونَ وَفِرْعَوْنَ وَهَامَانَ وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُمْ مُّوسَى بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ فَاسْتَكْبَرُوا فِى الاَْرْضِ وَمَا كَانُوا سَابِقِينَ(( 39 ))

39- AND KORAH, PHARAOH, AND HA"MA"N. MOSES CAME TO THEM WITH CLEAR SIGNS, BUT THEY ACTED PROUDLY AND PRECEDED NOT.

فَكُلّاً أَخَذْنَا بِذَنْبِهِ فَمِنْهُمْ مَّنْ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِ حَاصِباً وَمِنْهُمْ مَّنْ أَخَذَتْهُ الصَّيْحَةُ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ خَسَفْنَا بِهِ الاَْرْضَ وَمِنْهُمْ مَّنْ أَغْرَقْنَا وَمَا كَانَ اللهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَكِنْ كَانُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ(( 40 ))

[ 632 ]

THE COMMENTARY EACH OPPRESSING GROUP WERE PUNISHED SOMEHOW

VERSE NO.36ِ40

Following the affliction of the people of Lot, now a brief reference is made to other people with similar fate, such as the people of Median, A"d, Thamud, and the Egyptions, who were around Pharaoh and Korah:- ``And to Median We sent their brother Shuaib. Then he said to them:- ``O, My People! Worship Allah and hope for the last Day to come, and make no mischief in the land.''

The story of Shuaib was narrated with more detail in the volume 3 of our book, pages 198ِ203.

Their persistently assailing sin, was, fraud and commerical immorality; and they were punished by a mighty blast like that of a volcanic eruption. They believed not in Resurrection Day and the Final Judgement, and so they lost the true object of life, and strayed from the path of truth. All the above mentioned four groups of people were afflicted by the reactions of their own actions, and thus incurred the wrath of God, and were all destroyed. They did their wrong deeds deliberately and with Free Will, and Allah did not oppress them, but they themselves were oppressing.

مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مِنْ دُونِ اللهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ كَمَثَلِ الْعَنكَبُوتِ اتَّخَذَتْ بَيْتاً وَإِنَّ أَوْهَنَ الْبُيُوتِ لَبَيْتُ الْعَنْكَبُوتِ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ(( 41 ))

41- THE PARABLE OF THOSE WHO TOOK PROTECTORS OTHER THAN ALLAH, IS THAT OF THE SPIDERِSHE TOOK A HOUSE (SPAN A WEB) AND VERILY THE MOST INFIRM OF HOUSES IS THE SPIDER'S HOUSE, IF THEY COULD ONLY KNOW.

[ 633 ]

إِنَّ اللهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا يَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِهِ مِنْ شَىْء وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ(( 42 ))

42- VERILY ALLAH KNOWS WHATEVER THEY CALL UPON, BESIDES HIM, AND HE IS THE EXALTED IN MIGHT, ALL-WISE.

وَتِلْكَ الاَْمْثَالُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ وَمَا يَعْقِلُهَا إِلاَّ الْعَالِمُونَ(( 43 ))

43- AND THESE SIMILITUDES WE COIN THEM FOR PEOPLE, BUT NONE UNDERSTANDS THEM EXCEPT THOSE WITH KNOWLEDGE.

خَلَقَ اللهُ السَّموَاتِ وَالاَْرْضَ بِالْحَقِّ إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لاَيَةً لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ(( 44 ))

44- ALLAH CREATED THE HEAVENS AND EARTH, WITH RIGHTNESS. VERILY IN THAT THERE IS A SIGN FOR THE BELIEVERS.