English Translation of Al-Quran
[40].Surah Al Mumin (The Believer) also known as Surah Ghafir [The Forgiver]
Ayat 21. Have they not travelled in the land and seen what was the end of those who were before them? They were superior to them in strength, and in the traces (which they left) in the land. But Allah seized them with punishment for their sins. And none had them to protect them from Allah.
Tafseer of Surah Al Mumin (The Believer) Ayat 21. Do they not travel through the earth and see what was the End of those before them? They were even superior to them in strength, and in the traces (they Have left) in the land: but Allah did call them to account for their sins, and none had to defend them against Allah. Cf. 30:9. And several other similar passages. 30:9. We can learn from the history of previous nations. Many of them were more powerful, or have left finer and more imposing monuments and made a deeper impression on the world around them than any particular generation addressed. “Traces” in the text may be taken in that extended sense. And yet all this did not save them from the consequences of their sins. They were called to account and punished. None of the power or pomp or skill of which they boasted could for a moment ward off the punishment when it came in Allah’s good time.
English Translation of Hadith
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ [SAWW](PBUH) said, “Seek refuge in Allah against the turmoil, attacks of misfortunes, and evil of judgment and joys of the enemies.”
[Al-Bukhari Book 8, Chapter 75, Hadith # 358 and Muslim].
Lesson : as mentioned above in Surah Ar-Rum [The Romans] Ayat 33. “When harm touches men, they cry sincerely only to their Lord (Allah), turning to Him in repentance” The trouble of a trial which is unbearable for a person and from which he does not have the power to rid himself is called (juhd al-bala’), translated here as `turmoil’s’. Some people are of the opinion that it is synonymous with poverty combined with abundant children. But Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar is of the view that it is only one of the several kinds of “Troubles of a Trial.” “Ash-Shaqa’ is the opposite of good fortune, that is, to pray for protection from misfortune. No Decision of Allah is wrong but some of His Decisions may be harmful for certain people while others are beneficial for them. This means that their goodness or badness is related to persons. What it signifies is that one should pray to Allah to keep one safe from such decisions which are harmful for him. “Shamatat” the pleasure that one’s enemy feels in one’s trouble. In other words, it is prayed that Allah may protect one from any such trouble which is pleasing to one’s enemy, because when a person is in trouble; his enemies feel pleasure over it. In this Hadith, one sentence was added by Abu Sufyan and during his old age he did not remember which one it was. But we learn from other Hadith that it was “the pleasure of enemies”. (Ibn Allan). This Hadith also shows the honesty and integrity of the narrators of Hadith. They were honest to the extent that if a few words of supplication were added to a Hadith by its narrators, they would point it out. Some scholars have regarded these words an addition in the Hadith by its narrator, who is otherwise reliable, but it is not a problem of “addition of authority” because in that case, the addition is the saying of the Prophet (PBUH) which is mentioned by one narrator and omitted by another. But here it is quite different as the narrator of the Hadith himself is pointing out the addition made by him. Such additional words are technically called “Mudraj”.
