English Translation of Al-Quran
[39].Surah Al-Zumar [The Groups]
Ayat 58. Or (lest) he should say when he sees the torment: “If only I had another chance (to return to the world) then I should indeed be among the Muhsinun (good-doers).”
Ayat 59. Yes! Verily, there came to you My Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and you denied them, and were proud and were among the disbelievers.
Tafseer of Surah Al Zumar Ayat 58 & 59 “Or (lest) it should say when it (actually) sees the penalty: ´If only I had another chance, I should certainly be among those who do good, In the third place, when we stand face to face with the Penalty of our own deeds, we might say, ‘I wish I had another chance’. But not one, but many, chances are being given, especially when we are told (in verse Ayat 53): ‘Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful’. The force of ‘lest it should say’ here is the same as explained in the last note. Ayat 59. “(The reply will be: ´Nay, but there came to thee my Signs, and thou didst reject them: thou wast Haughty, and became one of those who reject faith! The reply explains how all such pleas have been anticipated and met. It was a deliberate rejection that will deserve and meet its consequences. It is further explained that the motive of sin, as with Satan, was haughtiness and self. Cf. 2:34 .The example of the arch-sinner illustrates what happens, to a minor degree, to every kind of sinner.
English Translation of Hadith
Hazrat Ibn Umer (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: when Messenger of Allah ﷺ [SAWW](PBUH), and his Companions reached Al-Hijr, the dwellings of the Thamud people, he admonished his Companions (saying), “Do not pass by these people who are being tormented, without weeping, lest the punishment should befall you as it had befallen them.” [Al-Bukhari Book 04, Chapter 55, Hadith # 564].
Another narration is: Hazrat Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) said: When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ [SAWW](PBUH) passed near Al-Hijr, he said, “Do not enter without weeping, the dwellings of those who wronged themselves, lest the same chastisement should fall upon you as it had fallen upon them.” Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH) then covered his head and sped up until he crossed the valley of the tormented people.
Lesson: The Thamud were the people to whose guidance Allah sent Prophet Saleh AS. They lived between Al-Madinah and Syria. In 10 A.H. when the Prophet ﷺ [SAWW](PBUH) went to the Syrian border for the Tabuk expedition, he also passed through this ruined territory. This Hadith is related to the address which he gave to his Companions on the occasion. Here is an instruction that when we happen to pass through the territory of a nation destroyed in the past as a result of Divine wrath, we are advised to quicken one’s pace. That is why we have been commanded to avoid the company of the corrupt and the wrongdoers, lest we meet their bad end, too. As the Qur’an says: “And incline not toward those who do wrong, lest the Fire should touch you.” (11:113) May Allah save us from it!
