Surah 28:59
Show Full Scripture Context (28:58-59) — 2 Verses
وَكَمۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَا مِن قَرۡيَةِۭ بَطِرَتۡ مَعِيشَتَهَاۖ فَتِلۡكَ مَسَٰكِنُهُمۡ لَمۡ تُسۡكَن مِّنۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡ إِلَّا قَلِيلٗاۖ وَكُنَّا نَحۡنُ ٱلۡوَٰرِثِينَ
How many a town have We destroyed (which) boasted of its means of livelihood! Those are their dwelling places (which remain) uninhabited after them, except for a few. We became the inheritors!
وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ مُهۡلِكَ ٱلۡقُرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ يَبۡعَثَ فِيٓ أُمِّهَا رَسُولٗا يَتۡلُواْ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ءَايَٰتِنَاۚ وَمَا كُنَّا مُهۡلِكِي ٱلۡقُرَىٰٓ إِلَّا وَأَهۡلُهَا ظَٰلِمُونَ
Yet your Lord was not one to destroy the towns until He had raised up a messenger in their mother (city), reciting Our signs to them. We would not have destroyed the towns unless their people had been evildoers.
Referring to the people of Makkah, Allah says:
They were arrogant transgressors who denied Allah's blessing of giving them ample provision. This is like the Ayah,
{And Allah puts forward the example of a township, that dwelt secure and well-content: its provision coming to it in abundance from every place} until:
{So the torment overtook them while they were wrongdoers} (16:112-113)
Allah said:
Their land became empty and desolate, and you can see nothing but their dwellings.
Their towns became ruins, with none remaining.
Then Allah tells us of His justice and that He does not destroy anyone unjustly; on the contrary. He destroys those whom He destroys after establishing proof against them. So, he says:
{And never will your Lord destroy the towns until He sends to their mother town} i.e., Makkah -
This indicates that the Unlettered Prophet, Muhammad was sent from the Mother of Cities as a Messenger to all cities and towns, Arab and non-Arab alike. This is like the Ayat.
{so that you may warn the Mother of Towns and all those around it} (6:92).
{Say: "O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah} (7:158),
{That I may therewith warn you and whomsoever it may reach.} (6:19)
{but those of the sects that reject it, the Fire will be their promised meeting place.} (11:17).
{And there is not a town but We shall destroy it before the Day of Resurrection, or punish it with a severe torment.} (17:58).
Allah tells us that He will destroy every town before the Day of Resurrection, as He says:
{And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger.} (17:15).
Allah has sent the Unlettered Prophet to all the towns (all of mankind), because he has been sent to the Mother of Cities, their source to which they all return. It was recorded in the Two Sahihs that the Prophet said:
«I have been sent to the red and the black»