Surah Al-Hijr — Verse 13

Word Meanings:

• لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ — They will not believe in it (the Qur'an).
• خَلَتْ — Passed away, has already occurred, has gone before.
• سُنَّةُ الْأَوَّلِينَ — The established way/practice of Allah with the earlier nations (i.e., His decree to destroy those who rejected their messengers).

Explanation of the Verse:

This verse reveals a profound truth about the nature of persistent disbelief. Allah informs His Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that the disbelievers of his people will not believe in the Qur'an that was revealed to him. This is not a random or arbitrary matter—it is part of a divine pattern that has been in operation since the earliest times.

Just as Allah allowed hardness of heart and stubborn rejection to settle upon the earlier nations who mocked their prophets and denied the truth, so too did He decree that the polytheists of Makkah would persist in their rejection of the final revelation. The verse then points to a sobering reality: the "Sunnah of the earlier peoples" has already passed—meaning Allah's established practice of destroying those who persisted in denial and falsehood. The people of Nuh, 'Ad, Thamud, and others all met their fate when they crossed the line of no return in their obstinacy.

This serves as both a warning and a comfort. It is a warning to the disbelievers of Makkah that they are treading the very same path that led to the destruction of those before them. The same divine law that brought ruin upon the rejecters of old is still in effect—it does not change, nor does it discriminate. And it is a comfort to the Prophet and the believers, assuring them that the rejection they face is not due to any deficiency in the message or the messenger, but rather a fulfillment of a divine decree that has always operated against those who choose arrogance over truth.

The verse carries within it a powerful lesson for all of humanity: the laws of Allah are consistent and unchanging. Whoever follows the path of the earlier rejecters should expect the same outcome. But whoever follows the path of the believers—those who accepted the truth with humility and sincerity—will receive the same honor and salvation that was granted to the believers of old.

A Call to Reflection:

Dear reader, this verse invites you to reflect on your own position. The Qur'an is not merely a book—it is the living word of Allah, a light that guides to the straight path. Those who approach it with sincerity and an open heart will find in it everything they need for success in this life and the next. Do not let pride or stubbornness blind you as it blinded those before you. The door of faith is open, and Allah's mercy is vast. Seize this opportunity before the sun sets on your life, for the Sunnah of Allah is that the opportunity does not remain forever. Embrace the truth, and you will find peace in this world and eternal bliss in the Hereafter.