Surah As-Saffat — Verse 137

Word Meanings:

• مُصْبِحِينَ (musbihīn): Entering the time of morning; i.e., at dawn or early morning.

Explanation of the Verse:

This verse addresses the people of Makkah directly, reminding them of a reality they encounter regularly in their daily lives. Allah says: "And indeed, you pass by them in the morning." The "them" refers to the destroyed dwellings and ruins of the people of Prophet Lot (peace be upon him) — the inhabitants of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, which were turned upside down and pelted with stones of baked clay as a punishment for their grave sins of immorality and disbelief.

The Quraysh of Makkah, in their trade caravans traveling to the Levant (Ash-Sham), would pass by these very ruins — the remnants of a civilization destroyed by divine wrath. They would see these remains in the morning hours, and as the following verse adds, also at night. This is not a distant, unknown story from ancient times; it is a visible, tangible sign right on their familiar route. The ruins stood as a silent witness to the truth of Allah's warnings and the fate that befalls those who transgress His limits.

The verse carries a profound rhetorical question that follows in the next verse: "Do you not then use reason?" The implication is clear — if you see with your own eyes the consequences of sin and disobedience, how can you continue in your own defiance? How can you not take heed and reform your ways?

Reflection and Counsel:

Dear reader, this verse is a powerful call to reflection. Allah, in His infinite mercy, does not merely send warnings through words — He places signs in the physical world around us for us to witness. The ruins of past nations are not just historical artifacts; they are lessons carved in stone. When you see the remains of destroyed civilizations, or when you read about the fate of arrogant and sinful peoples, let it move your heart. Let it remind you that Allah's promise is true, that His justice is certain, and that no power on earth can protect anyone from His decree.

The people of Makkah passed by these ruins morning and evening, yet many of them remained heedless. How often do we, too, pass by signs of Allah's power and wisdom without pausing to reflect? The Qur'an invites you — not to fear blindly, but to reason, to understand, and to return to your Lord with a sincere heart. The same Allah who destroyed those nations is the One who sent His final Messenger with mercy to humanity. He has given you the opportunity to learn from the past and to choose the path of righteousness. Seize this opportunity, for the door of repentance is open, and the mercy of Allah is vast — but the signs of His power are equally real. Let your faith be built on both hope and reverence, and let every sign you witness draw you closer to Him.