In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allaah [The Most High] informs us in Surah Al-A’raaf Aayaat 123-126 that Fir’awn threatened the sorcerers after they abandoned their misguidance and accepted Moosaa’s [alayhis-salaam] message; Allaah [The Most High] says that Fir’awn said to them: [ءَامَنتُم بِهِۦ قَبۡلَ أَنۡ ءَاذَنَ لَكُم – You have believed in him [Musa (Moses)] before I give you permission]; Fir’awn- the cruel and opinionated judge- considered himself as the only one deserving of passing judgements on the statements of the people and in the assemblies. It was established by him and accepted by his people that he was the one to be followed and no one was allowed to oppose his judgements and statements. Therefore, contradicting his judgements and statements is tantamount to bad behaviour and disrespect.

Then Allaah [The Most High] says that Firawn said to His people: [إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَمَكۡرٌ۬ مَّكَرۡتُمُوهُ فِى ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ لِتُخۡرِجُواْ مِنۡہَآ أَهۡلَهَا‌ۖ فَسَوۡفَ تَعۡلَمُونَ – Surely, this is a plot which you have plotted in the city to drive out its people, but you shall come to know]; meaning: Fir’awn claimed that Moosaa [alayhis-salaam] is the elder (or leader) of the sorcerers who taught them sorcery and the sorcerers secretly allowed him to be victorious, so that the majority of people will follow them. This is an outright lie and Fir’awn was absolutely certain of it! Indeed, Moosaa [alayhis-salaam] never sought the support of the sorcerers; rather it was Fir’awn who sent his followers to the various cities of Egypt to gather the sorcerers to champion his cause. As for Moosaa [alayhis-salaam] he came with clear signs from Allaah [The Most High], whereas the sorcerers brought sorcery in order to defeat him; but their plot failed and the truth Moosaa [alayhis-salaam] brought became manifest to them, so they followed him.

Then Allaah [The Most High] says that Firawn said to those who repented from sorcery and believed in Moosaa: [لَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيۡدِيَكُمۡ وَأَرۡجُلَكُم مِّنۡ خِلَـٰفٍ۬ ثُمَّ لَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمۡ أَجۡمَعِينَ -Surely, I will cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, then I will crucify you all]; Fir’awn- the cruel one- claimed that those who abandoned his way and followed the path of Moosaa [alayhis-salaam] were guilty of causing corruption in the earth and that he will deal with them in that manner in which such people deserve to be dealt with.

Then Allaah [The Most High] says that those who repented from sorcery and followed Moosaa [alayhis-salaam] replied to Fir’awn, saying: [إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا مُنقَلِبُونَ – Verily, we are returning to our Lord!] [وَمَا تَنقِمُ مِنَّآ إِلَّآ أَنۡ ءَامَنَّا بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّنَا لَمَّا جَآءَتۡنَا‌ۚ رَبَّنَآ أَفۡرِغۡ عَلَيۡنَا صَبۡرً۬ا وَتَوَفَّنَا مُسۡلِمِي ]- And you take vengeance on us only because we believed in the Ayat (proofs, evidences, lessons, signs, etc.) of our Lord when they reached us! Our Lord! pour out on us patience, and cause us to die as Muslims].

[Source: An Excerpt from ‘Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan’ by Imaam As-Sadi (rahimahullaah)]

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Allaah [The Most High) informed us that Hud (alayhis-salaam) said to his people:

وَإِذَا بَطَشْتُمْ بَطَشْتُمْ جَبَّارِينَ

And when you seize you seize as tyrants.

Imaam Ibnul Jawzi (rahimahullaah) said: ‘’And when you seize you seize as tyrants’’- Meaning: When you hit with a whip, you hit like tyrants. And when you punish people, you kill.  Hud (alayhis-salaam) disapproved of that because it was done out of oppression; for had they hit with a sword or a whip based on what is right, they would not have been blamed. [Ref 1]

Imaam as-Saa’di (rahimahullaah) said: And when you seize’’ the creation (i.e. your opponents), you seize as tyrants’’ in killing, hitting and seizing wealth.  Indeed, Allaah granted them great strength and it was incumbent upon them to utilize their strength in obedience to Allaah; however they were boastful and arrogant.  And they said: ‘’Who is mightier than us in strength?’’ and they utilized their strength in disobedience to Allaah, and in futility and foolishness.  Therefore, their Prophet (Hud) forbade them from that. [Ref 2]

Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [rahimahullaah] stated about the statement of Allaah: [وَإِذَا بَطَشْتُمْ بَطَشْتُمْ جَبَّارِينَ – And when you seize, you seize as tyrants?]. This is a rebuke against Aad-the people of Hud [alayhis-salaam]. Allaah rebuked them and that they are oppressors who strike people without right. They oppress people by way of striking, killing and seizing wealth by force. This is a rebuke against them and a blameworthy trait of theirs. This [behaviour of theirs] is not permissible. This [i.e. this statement of Allaah] is a rebuke against Aad and a blameworthy affair for which Allaah sent a devastating barren wind against them. They used to oppress the people and transgressed against them. [Ref 3]

[1]Zaadul Maseer

[2]Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam al-Mannaan

[3] Source: see link: http://www.binbaz.org.sa/mat/9111 Slightly Paraphrased

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allaah (The Most High) said:

[أَلَمۡ تَرَ كَيۡفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِعَادٍ – Did you (O Muhammad) not see (thought) how your Lord dealt with ‘Ad (people)?]; [إِرَمَ ذَاتِ ٱلۡعِمَادِ -Who were very tall like lofty pillars]; [ٱلَّتِى لَمۡ يُخۡلَقۡ مِثۡلُهَا فِى ٱلۡبِلَـٰدِ- The like of which were not created in the land?]; [وَثَمُودَ ٱلَّذِينَ جَابُواْ ٱلصَّخۡرَ بِٱلۡوَادِ – And (with) Thamud (people), who cut (hewed) out rocks in the valley (to make dwellings)?]; [وَفِرۡعَوۡنَ ذِى ٱلۡأَوۡتَادِ -And (with) Fir’aun (Pharaoh), who had the stakes; ٱلَّذِينَ طَغَوۡاْ فِى ٱلۡبِلَـٰدِ -Who did transgress beyond bounds in the lands (in the disobedience of Allah); فَأَكۡثَرُواْ فِيہَا ٱلۡفَسَادَ – And made therein much mischief; فَصَبَّ عَلَيۡهِمۡ رَبُّكَ سَوۡطَ عَذَابٍ – So your Lord poured on them different kinds of severe torment;إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَبِٱلۡمِرۡصَادِ  – Verily, your Lord is Ever Watchful (over them)] [Soorah Al-Fajr Aayaat 6-14]

Few Benefits from the Above Aayaat

[أَلَمۡ تَرَ -Did you (O Muhammad) not see]; Meaning: With your heart and insight, how those tyrannical nations were dealt with- the (people of) Iram, the well-known tribe in Yemen.  [ذَاتِ ٱلۡعِمَاد -Who were very tall like lofty pillars]; Meaning: They had great strength, insolent and proud. [ٱلَّتِى لَمۡ يُخۡلَقۡ مِثۡلُهَا -The like of which were not created]; Meaning: None was similar to Aad in strength; [فِى ٱلۡبِلَـٰدِ – In the land]; Meaning: In all the lands (due to what they possessed of power and strength), just as Allaah [The Most High] says that their Prophet Hud (alayhis-salaam) said to them: [وَٱذۡڪُرُوٓاْ إِذۡ جَعَلَكُمۡ خُلَفَآءَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ قَوۡمِ نُوحٍ۬ وَزَادَكُمۡ فِى ٱلۡخَلۡقِ بَصۜۡطَةً۬‌ۖ فَٱذۡڪُرُوٓاْ ءَالَآءَ ٱللَّهِ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ -And remember that He made you successors after the people of Nuh (Noah), and increased you amply in stature. So remember the graces (bestowed upon you) from Allah, so that you may be successful] [Al-A’raaf: Ayah 70]

[وَثَمُودَ ٱلَّذِينَ جَابُواْ ٱلصَّخۡرَ بِٱلۡوَاد – And (with) Thamud (people), who cut (hewed) out rocks in the valley (to make dwellings)]; Meaning: Valley towns, which they hewed out of solid rocks with their strength and took them as dwelling places.

[وَفِرۡعَوۡنَ ذِى ٱلۡأَوۡتَاد – And (with) Fir’aun (Pharaoh), who had the stakes]; Meaning: He had hosts that established his authority, in a manner similar to how stakes firmly hold something (on the ground). [ٱلَّذِينَ طَغَوۡاْ فِى ٱلۡبِلَـٰدِ – Who did transgress beyond bounds in the lands (in the disobedience of Allah)]; Meaning: Aad, Thamood, Fir’awn and those who followed them because they transgressed in Allaah’s earth and harmed the slaves of Allaah in their religious and worldly affairs.  And because of this Allaah (The Most High) said: [فَأَكۡثَرُواْ فِيہَا ٱلۡفَسَاد  – And made therein much mischief]; Meaning: Disbelief (in Allaah and His Messengers); spreading all types of disobedience (in the land); hastening to wage war against the Messengers and hindering mankind from the path of Allaah.

So when they reached that state of haughtiness deserving of destruction, Allaah sent them His punishment -different kinds of severe torment. [إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَبِٱلۡمِرۡصَادِ   – Verily, your Lord is Ever Watchful]; Meaning: Ever watchful over the one who disobeys Him.  Allaah gives him respite for a little while, and then seizes him with a mighty and powerful seizure.

[An Excerpt from ‘Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer kalaam Al-Mannaan’ by Imaam As-Sadi (rahimahullaah).slightly paraphrased]

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allaah [The Most High] said:

قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ سُنَنٌ فَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَانْظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ

Many similar ways [and mishaps of life] were faced by nations that have passed away before you, so travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those who disbelieved. [3:137]

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah] said: Indeed there were nations like yourselves before you, so look to their evil end.  You have to know that the cause of that [i.e. their evil end] was due to their disbelief in the revelations of Allaah and disbelief in Allaah’s Messengers.  They were the ancestors and you are the descendants. The main affair that connects [you to each other] is your disbelief and the ruling on that [disbelief] is destruction. [Source: I’laam Al-Muwaqqi-een: 1/181]

If it is said: what is the benefit in narrating to us the stories of the destroyed nations, despite the fact that this Ummah will not be completely destroyed in a manner similar to the destruction of the previous nations before it?

The Answer: Indeed, this has two benefits: The first (benefit): A clarification of Allaah’s blessings upon us that (the occurrence of a) complete destruction is removed from us, and that were it not for Allaah’s Benevolence we would have been deserving of it.

Secondly: The likeness of the punishment they (received) may occur in the hereafter for the one who did what they did, if punishment was not received in the worldly life. And this may be understood from the statement of (Allaah): ”Such is the Seizure of your Lord when He seizes the (population of) towns while they are doing wrong. Verily, His Seizure is painful, and severe. Indeed in that (there) is a sure lesson for those who fear the torment of the Hereafter.” So what is apparent from (this ayah) is that what is similar to the punishment (they received) will happen in the Hereafter, and Allaah knows best. [Source: Al-Muntaqaa Min Fawaa-idil Fawaa-id 123-124 of Imaam Muhammad Bin Saaleh al-Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah)]

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allaah [The Most High] said:

وَمِنۡ أَهۡلِ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ مَنۡ إِن تَأۡمَنۡهُ بِقِنطَارٍ۬ يُؤَدِّهِۦۤ إِلَيۡكَ وَمِنۡهُم مَّنۡ إِن تَأۡمَنۡهُ بِدِينَارٍ۬ لَّا يُؤَدِّهِۦۤ إِلَيۡكَ إِلَّا مَا دُمۡتَ عَلَيۡهِ قَآٮِٕمً۬ا‌ۗ ذَٲلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمۡ قَالُواْ لَيۡسَ عَلَيۡنَا فِى ٱلۡأُمِّيِّـۧنَ سَبِيلٌ۬ وَيَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡكَذِبَ وَهُمۡ يَعۡلَمُونَ

‘’Among the people of the Scripture is he who, if entrusted with a Cantar [a great amount of wealth, etc.], will readily pay it back; and among them there is he who, if entrusted with a single silver coin, will not repay it unless you constantly stand demanding, because they say: ‘’There is no blame on us to betray and take the properties of the illiterates (Arabs).” But they tell a lie against Allah while they know it.’’ [3:75]

They made corrupt claims and held repulsive views, and thus considered themselves to be  possessors of great status and [held] that the illiterate Arabs were extremely degraded; therefore, the rights of the illiterate Arabs could be violated. So, through these corrupt claims and repulsive views they ate haraam and considered it lawful by way of creed.

Likewise, they lied against Allaah because the scholar who declares things lawful or unlawful is considered- by the people- as one transmitting Allaah’s Judgement and not from himself; and that [ruling of theirs about the wealth of the illiterate Arabs] is a lie. Allaah said: [وَيَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡكَذِبَ وَهُمۡ يَعۡلَمُون – But they tell a lie against Allah while they know it]. This is one of the greatest sins-speaking about Allaah without knowledge.

[Source: An Excerpt from Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan of Imaam Sadi (rahimahullaah)]

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allaah [The Most High] said:

وَمَن يَكْسِبْ خَطِيئَةً أَوْ إِثْمًا ثُمَّ يَرْمِ بِهِ بَرِيئًا فَقَدِ احْتَمَلَ بُهْتَانًا وَإِثْمًا مُّبِينًا

And whoever earns a fault or a sin and then throws it on to someone innocent, he has indeed burdened himself with falsehood and a manifest sin. [Surah An-Nisaa. Aayah 112]

Be warned against Fujoor Fil Khusoomah [Iniquity when disputing]! Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [rahimahullaah] said, ‘’Iniquity when disputing is of types: To claim what one is not entitled to and reject what is obligatory upon him [to fulfil, give etc]’’.

[Sharh Riyaadus Saaliheen 4/49-50]