The Nations that were Destroyed and the Reasons why they were Destroyed

The Nations that were Destroyed and the Reasons why they were Destroyed

Allah gave man, who is the most honorable creature, intellect and will, and encumbered him with some responsibilities. Allah guided man by sending prophets and books so that he can fulfill those responsibilities.
The Quran is the last holy book sent by Allah to Hz. Muhammad (pbuh). The addressee of this book is the whole mankind and its purpose is to ensure their happiness in the world and the hereafter.
In order to fulfill this purpose, it is necessary for us to read and understand the Quran and to obey its orders and prohibitions.

It is Allah who creates man and shapes him spiritually and physically and who makes him live. It is the most important duty of every Muslim to know, approach and worship Allah, who puts the universe under his order. Man needs to accept the revelation Allah sent through His prophet and the sunnah of the Prophet as his guide. The Quran, which is a source of endless knowledge, wisdom and happiness, is a sublime book that enlightens the mind and heart, that enlightens the realms with its light, that cures spirits and that enables man to have a strong conscience and belief.

Therefore, we need to accept the Quran as our guide, to study carefully what Allah tells us in it and to meditate on them.
As a matter of fact, Allah states that the reason why the Quran was sent is to make man think:

هَـذَابَلاَغٌلِّلنَّاسِوَلِيُنذَرُوابِهِوَلِيَعْلَمُواْأَنَّمَاهُوَإِلَـهٌوَاحِدٌوَلِيَذَّكَّرَأُوْلُواْالأَلْبَابِ

"Here is a Message for mankind: let them take warning therefrom, and let them know that He is (no other than) One God: let men of understanding take heed.” (Ibrahim,14/52)

The news about the previous nations, which forms an important part of the Quran, is one of the issues that need to be meditated on. Most of those nations denied the prophets sent to them and treated them as enemies. Allah states in the Quran that these incidents of destructions due to their deviation should be lessons for those who come to the world after them. For instance, the following verse tells us about the punishment given to a group of Jews, who opposed Allah:

فَجَعَلْنَاهَانَكَالاًلِّمَابَيْنَيَدَيْهَاوَمَاخَلْفَهَاوَمَوْعِظَةًلِّلْمُتَّقِينَ

“So We made it an example to their own time and to their posterity, and a lesson to those who fear Allah." (al-Baqara,2/66)

Most of the incidents of destruction mentioned in the Quran has been known and seen thanks to archeological excavations.

Every nation and community have a lifespan like all living beings; they are born, live and die. There is no eternal nation in history. Nations also pass away when their lifespan ends like human beings. It is a necessity of the system established by Allah in the universe.

The following is stated about the destroyed nations in the Quran:

“Never did We destroy a population that had not a term decreed and assigned beforehand. Neither can a people anticipate its Term, nor delay it.” (al-Hijr,15/4-5)

The words “qarya”, (1) and “ummah” (2) are used about the destroyed nations in the Quran. These words mean the people in a country, generations, small or big communities. (3)

Communities die when their lifespan ends. Their term cannot be lengthened or shortened, and quickened or shortened. Only Allah knows this term. When it is due, they are destroyed.

“There is a term for every community, every nation, whether big or small and every state in the eye of Allah. Not all of those who deny the prophets of Allah, the polytheists, unruly people, atheists, oppressors, rebels, and immoral people all over the world are punished all of a sudden and at the same time. Each nation has a term. An evil that causes a nation to be destroyed at a certain period of time might take less or more time for another. However, when their appointed time reaches, it cannot be delayed or advanced. They are destroyed.” (4) This issue is stated as follows in the Quran:

فَإِذَاجَاءأَجَلُهُمْلاَيَسْتَأْخِرُونَسَاعَةًوَلاَيَسْتَقْدِمُونَ“ وَلِكُلِّأُمَّةٍأَجَلٌ

“To every people is a term appointed: when their term is reached not an hour can they cause delay, nor (an hour) can they advance (it in anticipation).” (al-Araf,7/34)

It is stated in the following verse that this appointed time never changes:
“But to no soul will Allah grant respite when the time appointed (for it) has come: and Allah is well-acquainted with (all) that ye do.” (al-Munafiqun, 63/11)

According to the Quran, a person dies only with the permission of Allah:
“Nor can a soul die except by Allah's leave the term being fixed as by writing. If any do desire a reward in this life, We shall give it to him; and if any do desire a reward in the Hereafter, We shall give it to him. And swiftly shall We reward those that (serve Us with) gratitude." (Aal-i Imran 3/145)

“The wrath and destruction of every ummah is recorded in the Preserved Tablet (Lawh al-Mahfuz). When the causes and conditions written there occur, they are destroyed.” (5) Allah states the following in the Quran:

وَإِنْمِنْقَرْيَةٍإِلَّانَحْنُمُهْلِكُوهَاقَبْلَيَوْمِالْقِيَامَةِأَوْمُعَذِّبُوهَاعَذَابًاشَدِيدًاكَانَذَلِكَفِيالْكِتَابِمَسْطُورًا

“There is not a population but We shall destroy it before the Day of Judgment or punish it with a dreadful Penalty: That is written in the (eternal) Record.”(al-Isra, 17/58)

It is Allah who pre destinates the time of destruction for ummahs and individuals. It is not possible for anyone to die outside this predestination and time and for any ummah to be destroyed. As it is stated in the verses, every community and every individual have appointed terms. When it is due, the individuals and communities die. People cannot know this appointed term; only Allah knows it.

According to the Quran, the people themselves cause the destruction of their nations. There lies the reason for the destruction of nations. Allah is merciful.
His mercy surrounds everything. Allah does not wrong people; He gives them abundant rewards in return for their good deeds. He does not punish people for all of their bad deeds; He forgives some of them.
“Allah is never unjust in the least degree: if there is any good (done) He doubleth it, and giveth from His own presence a great reward.”(an-Nisa, 4/40)
إنَّاللّهَلاَيَظْلِمُالنَّاسَشَيْئًاوَلَـكِنَّالنَّاسَأَنفُسَهُمْيَظْلِمُونَ

“Verily Allah will not deal unjustly with man in aught: it is man that wrongs his own soul”(Yunus10/44)
The verses above state that Allah does not treat people unjustly; they state that misfortunes hit people due to their own mistakes and that the people who rebel against Allah treat themselves unjustly.

وَلَقَدْأَهْلَكْنَاالْقُرُونَمِنْقَبْلِكُمْلَمَّاظَلَمُواوَجَاءَتْهُمْرُسُلُهُمْبِالْبَيِّنَاتِوَمَاكَانُوالِيُؤْمِنُواكَذَلِكَنَجْزِيالْقَوْمَالْمُجْرِمِينَ

Generations before you We destroyed when they did wrong: their Messengers came to them with Clear Signs, but they would not believe! Thus do We requite those who sin. (Yunus, 10/13)
وَلَوْأَنَّأَهْلَالْقُرَىآمَنُواوَاتَّقَوْالَفَتَحْنَاعَلَيْهِمْبَرَكَاتٍمِنْالسَّمَاءِوَالْأَرْضِوَلَكِنْكَذَّبُوافَأَخَذْنَاهُمْبِمَاكَانُوايَكْسِبُونَ

“If the people of the towns had but believed and feared Allah, We should indeed have opened out to them (all kinds of) blessings from heaven and earth; but they rejected (the truth) and We brought them to book for their misdeeds. (al-Araf, 7/96)
وَالَّذِينَكَذَّبُواْبِآيَاتِنَاسَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُممِّنْحَيْثُلاَيَعْلَمُونَ

“Those who reject Our signs, We shall gradually visit with punishment, in ways they perceive not.” (al-Araf,7/182)

The destruction of nations is because of the oppression and bad deeds they commit. Allah does not change the good characteristics of a nation unless they themselves change them. The following is stated in a verse:
اناللهلايغيرمابقومختىيغيروامابانفسهم واذااراداللهبقومسوءافلامردلهومالهممندونهمنوال

“Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls). But when (once) Allah willeth a people's punishment, there can be no turning it back, nor will they find, besides Him any to protect” (Ra’d, 13/11)

According to the verse above, people keep living in welfare and peace as long as they keep doing good deeds. The destruction of communities is caused by their own bad deeds like mischief, corruption, anarchy and terror.
If immorality, injustice, oppression and evil deeds increase in a community and nobody tries to prevent them, that community is punished and destroyed. Allah replaces them with another community. This issue is stated as follows: in the Quran:
“How many were the populations we utterly destroyed because of their iniquities, setting up in their places other peoples.” (al-Anbiya, 21/11)

Many nations lived and passed away. Why did those nations not survive? Why were they destroyed?
According to the Quran, some nations were destroyed while they were in poverty and hardship while others were destroyed while they were in welfare and wealth.

According to what the Quran tells us, Allah sent prophets to all nations to guide people; the prophets called them to belief and obedience and asked them to give up debauchery, oppression and rebellion. However, most of them did not accept the call of the prophets and denied them; some of them even killed their prophets by torturing them. Allah warned those nations several times but He destroyed them because they did not improve themselves. This issue is stated as follows: in the Quran:
أَلَمْيَرَوْاْكَمْأَهْلَكْنَامِنقَبْلِهِممِّنقَرْنٍمَّكَّنَّاهُمْفِيالأَرْضِمَالَمْنُمَكِّنلَّكُمْوَأَرْسَلْنَاالسَّمَاءعَلَيْهِممِّدْرَارًاوَجَعَلْنَاالأَنْهَارَتَجْرِيمِنتَحْتِهِمْفَأَهْلَكْنَاهُمبِذُنُوبِهِمْوَأَنْشَأْنَامِنبَعْدِهِمْقَرْنًاآخَرِينَ

“See they not how many of those before them We did destroy?― Generations We had established on the earth, in strength such as We have not given to you,― for whom We poured out rain from the skies in abundance, and gave streams flowing beneath their (feet): yet for their sins We destroyed them, and raised in their wake fresh generations (to succeed them).” (al-Anam,6/6)
فَلَمَّانَسُوامَاذُكِّرُوابِهِفَتَحْنَاعَلَيْهِمْأَبْوَابَكُلِّ
شَيْءٍحَتَّىإِذَافَرِحُوابِمَاأُوتُواأَخَذْنَاهُمْبَغْتَةًفَإِذَاهُمْمُبْلِسُونَ

“But when they forget the warning they had received, We opened to them the gates of all (good) things, until, in the midst of their enjoyment of Our gifts, on a sudden, We called them to account, when lo! they were plunged in despair!” (al-Anam 6/44 )
The verses above state that Allah destroyed previous nations because of their sins and that they could not escape destruction though they were advanced economically and technologically. Allah created new nations instead of those destroyed nations.

The main sins of the destroyed nations are their rebellion against the prophets who called them to belief, obedience and honesty, and denying their prophets.

An important part of the Quran gives scenes from the stories and lives of previous nations and prophets. These stories are not narrated so that they will be read only but so that people will take lessons from them. These stories are full of important lessons, wisdom and advice. Therefore, we need to read those verses carefully and take lessons from them.
Now we can mention the reasons for the destruction of some nations.

 

⦁ NUH'S NATION

After Hz. Adam, the number of human beings increased; they built several towns on earth but they started to deviate from the true religion and to worship idols. Allah sent Hz. Nuh as a prophet to the people but they did not heed his advice; they even made fun of him. When Hz. Nuh gave up hope of his nation's belief, he asked Allah to destroy them. Allah ordered him to build a ship and to embark the believers and a pair of each animal species. After that, the earth was flooded by a great deluge. Those who did not believe were drowned and destroyed. (9) The reason for the destruction of the nation of Nuh is narrated as follows in the Quran:
وَلَقَدْأَرْسَلْنَانُوحًاإِلَىقَوْمِهِفَلَبِثَفِيهِمْأَلْفَسَنَةٍإِلَّاخَمْسِينَعَامًافَأَخَذَهُمُالطُّوفَانُوَهُمْظَالِمُونَ

“We (once) sent Noah to his people, and he tarried among them a thousand years less fifty: but the Deluge overwhelmed them while they (persisted in) sin." (al-Ankabut, 29/14)
مِمَّاخَطِيئَاتِهِمْأُغْرِقُوافَأُدْخِلُوانَارًافَلَمْيَجِدُوالَهُممِّندُونِاللَّهِأَنصَارًا

“Because of their sins they were drowned (in the flood) and were made to enter the Fire (of Punishment): and they found― in lieu of Allah― none to help them.” (Nuh, 71/25)

The nation of Nuh was destroyed because they rebelled against Allah and His prophet and because they indulged in oppression, unbelief and sins.

⦁ THE NATION OF AD

Allah sent Hz. Hud as a prophet to the people of Ad living in the region of Yemen. The nation of Ad had a lot of bounties; they constructed pompous buildings. Hz Hud, showed miracles to the nation of Ad, who insisted on polytheism and unbelief, and asked them to believe in the oneness of Allah. However, they were destroyed by a strong wind because they did not heed Hz. Hud and insisted on polytheism. (10)
فَأَمَّاعَادٌفَاسْتَكْبَرُوافِيالْأَرْضِبِغَيْرِالْحَقِّوَقَالُوامَنْأَشَدُّمِنَّاقُوَّةًأَوَلَمْيَرَوْاأَنَّاللَّهَالَّذِيخَلَقَهُمْهُوَأَشَدُّمِنْهُمْقُوَّةًوَكَانُوابِآيَاتِنَايَجْحَدُون

“Now the `Ad behaved arrogantly through the land, against (all) truth and reason, and said: "Who is superior to us in strength?" What! Did they not see that Allah, Who created them, was superior to them in strength? But they continued to reject Our Signs.” (Fussilat, 41/15)
فَأَرْسَلْنَاعَلَيْهِمْرِيحًاصَرْصَرًافِيأَيَّامٍنَّحِسَاتٍلِّنُذِيقَهُمعَذَابَالْخِزْيِفِيالْحَيَاةِالدُّنْيَاوَلَعَذَابُالْآخِرَةِأَخْزَىوَهُملَاْيُنصَرُون
“So We sent against them a furious Wind through days of disaster, that We might give them a taste of a Penalty of humiliation in this Life; but the Penalty of the Hereafter will be more humiliating still: and they will find no help." (Fussilat, 41/16)

.فَكَذَّبُوهُفَأَخَذَتْهُمُالرَّجْفَةُفَأَصْبَحُوافِيدَارِهِمْجَاثِمِينَوَعَادًاوَثَمُودَوَقَدتَّبَيَّنَلَكُممِّنمَّسَاكِنِهِمْوَزَيَّنَلَهُمُالشَّيْطَانُأَعْمَالَهُمْفَصَدَّهُمْعَنِالسَّبِيلِوَكَانُوامُسْتَبْصِرِينَ

"But they rejected him: then the mighty Blast seized them, and they lay prostrate in their homes by the morning. (Remember also) the `Ad and the Thamud (people): clearly will appear to you from (the traces) of their buildings (their fate): the Evil One made their deeds alluring to them, and kept them back from the Path, though they were gifted with Intelligence and Skill." (al-Ankabut, 29/37-38).

The nation of Ad was destroyed because they showed ingratitude to Allah despite the bounties He gave to them, and because of their denial and rebellion.

⦁ THE NATION OF THAMUD

After the destruction of the nation of Ad, the nation of Thamud lived in the region of Hijr. The nation of Thamud also had a lot of bounties; they built strong houses, summer and winter houses by carving mountains and stones. They lived in abundance and welfare; they lived long. In the course of time, they deviated from the right path and became polytheists. Allah sent Hz. Salih as a prophet to them. Salih called them to belief in Allah, worshipping and obedience. He showed them miracles and gave them advice. However, his nation did not obey him; they denied him. They killed the female camel that was given to them as a miracle and that they were asked not to touch. Thereupon, all of the nation of Thamud except Salih and those who believed in him were destroyed by a strong thunder. (11)
وَلَقَدْأَرْسَلْنَاإِلَىثَمُودَأَخَاهُمْصَالِحًاأَنِاعْبُدُوااللَّهَفَإِذَاهُمْفَرِيقَانِيَخْتَصِمُونَ

“We sent (aforetime), to the Thamud their brother Salih, saying, "Serve Allah": but behold, they became two factions quarrelling with each other.” (an-Naml, 27/45)
كَذَّبَتْثَمُودُبِطَغْوَاهَاإِذِانبَعَثَأَشْقَاهَا فَقَالَلَهُمْرَسُولُاللَّهِنَاقَةَاللَّهِوَسُقْيَاهَافَكَذَّبُوهُفَعَقَرُوهَافَدَمْدَمَعَلَيْهِمْرَبُّهُمبِذَنبِهِمْفَسَوَّاهَا

“But the messenger of Allah said to them: "It is a She-camel of Allah! and (bar her not from) having her drink!" Then they rejected him (as a false prophet), and they hamstrung her. So their Lord, on account of their crime, obliterated their traces and made them equal (in destruction, high and low).” (ash-Shams, 91/13-14)

⦁ THE NATION OF LUT

Hz. Lut was sent to the nation of Sodom in Palestine as a prophet. This nation deviated from the true path and indulged in denial and rebellion. The men living there stopped having sexual intercourse with women and started homosexuality. Hz. Lut called his nation to the true path. They were destroyed when they did not accept this call. (12)
ْإِنَّامُنَجُّوكَوَأَهْلَكَإِلَّاامْرَأَتَكَكَانَتْمِنَالْغَابِرِينَ إِنَّامُنزِلُونَعَلَىأَهْلِهَذِهِالْقَرْيَةِرِجْزًامِّنَالسَّمَاءبِمَاكَانُوايَفْسُقُونَ

"Our Messengers said to Lot, "Fear thou not nor grieve: we are (here) to save thee and thy following, except thy wife: she is of those who lag behind. For we are going to bring down on the people of this township a Punishment from heaven, because they have been wickedly rebellious." (al-Ankabut, 29/33,34)
وَلُوطًاإِذْقَالَلِقَوْمِهِأَتَأْتُونَالْفَاحِشَةَوَأَنتُمْتُبْصِرُون“أَئِنَّكُمْلَتَأْتُونالرِّجَالَشَهْوَةًمِّندُونِالنِّسَاءبَلْأَنتُمْقَوْمٌتَجْهَلُونََ

"We also sent Lut (as a messenger): behold, he said to his people "Do ye do what is shameful though ye see (its iniquity)? "Would ye really approach men in your lusts rather than women? Nay, ye are a people (grossly) ignorant!” (an-Naml 27/ 54, 55)
وَلُوطًاآتَيْنَاهُحُكْمًاوَعِلْمًاوَنَجَّيْنَاهُمِنَالْقَرْيَةِالَّتِيكَانَتتَّعْمَلُالْخَبَائِثَإِنَّهُمْكَانُواقَوْمَسَوْءٍفَاسِقِينَ

“And to Lut, too, we gave Judgment and Knowledge, and We saved him from the town which practised abominations: truly they were a people given to Evil, a rebellious people.” (al-Anbiya ,21/74)

⦁ THE PHARAOH AND THOSE WHO FOLLOWED HIM

Another nation that is stated to have been destroyed in the Quran is the Pharaoh and those who followed him. The Pharaoh is a name given to the kings of the ancient Egypt. The Pharaohs forced Children of Israel to do hard jobs like slaves. Children of Israel, who got tired of the hard jobs they were forced to do by the Pharaohs and by the polytheistic Copts, the natives of Egypt, wanted to return to Kanan, the land of their ancestors. However, they could not do it because they could not get rid of the Pharaoh. Once, a soothsayer told the Pharaoh that a child was going to be born from Children of Israel and that the child would depose him. Thereupon, the Pharaoh started to kill all of the male children of Children of Israel that were born. Hz. Musa (Moses) was born at that time. (13) According to the Quran, Hz. Musa got rid of the Pharaoh and was brought up in the palace of the Pharaoh by his own mother. Hz. Musa called the Pharaoh and Copts to the belief of oneness but the Pharaoh did not believe; he even claimed to be a deity; eventually, he was drowned in the sea together with his soldiers.
نَتْلُواعَلَيْكَمِننَّبَإِمُوسَىوَفِرْعَوْنَبِالْحَقِّلِقَوْمٍيُؤْمِنُونَ. إِنَّفِرْعَوْنَعَلَافِيالْأَرْضِوَجَعَلَأَهْلَهَاشِيَعًايَسْتَضْعِفُطَائِفَةًمِّنْهُمْيُذَبِّحُأَبْنَاءهُمْوَيَسْتَحْيِينِسَاءهُمْإِنَّهُكَانَمِنَالْمُفْسِدِينَ

“We rehearse to thee some of the story of Moses and Pharaoh in Truth, for people who believe. Truly Pharaoh elated himself in the land and broke up its people into sections depressing a group among them: their sons he slew, but he kept alive their females: for he was indeed a maker of mischief.” (al-Qasas,28/3-4)
“فَأَوْحَيْنَاإِلَىمُوسَىأَنِاضْرِببِّعَصَاكَالْبَحْرَفَانفَلَقَفَكَانَكُلُّفِرْقٍكَالطَّوْدِالْعَظِيمِوَأَزْلَفْنَاثَمَّالْآخَرِينَوَأَنجَيْنَامُوسَىوَمَنمَّعَهُأَجْمَعِينَثُمَّأَغْرَقْنَاالْآخَرِينَ

“Then We told Moses by inspiration: "Strike the sea with thy rod." So it divided, and each separate part become like the huge, firm mass of a mountain. And We made the other party approach thither. We delivered Moses and all who were with him; But We drowned the others.” (ash-Shuara 26/63,66)

While the Pharaoh was being drowned in the sea together with his followers due to his rebellion and other sins, he wanted to believe by saying, I believed in Allah; there is no god but Allah; I am a Muslim too" but his belief was not accepted because he had no chance of living then and he started to see the punishment he would undergo.
وَجَاوَزْنَابِبَنِيإِسْرَائِيلالْبَحْرَفَأَتْبَعَهُمْفِرْعَوْنُوَجُنُودُهُبَغْيًاوَعَدْوًاحَتَّىإِذَاأَدْرَكَهُالْغَرَقُقَالَآمَنتُأَنَّهُلاإِلِـهَإِلاَّالَّذِيآمَنَتْبِهِبَنُوإِسْرَائِيلََوَأَنَاْمِنَالْمُسْلِمِينَآلآنَوَقَدْعَصَيْتَقَبْلُوَكُنتَمِنَالْمُفْسِدِينَ

“We took the Children of Israel across the sea: Pharaoh and his hosts followed them in insolence and spite. At length, when overwhelmed with the flood, he said: "I believe that there is no god except Him Whom the Children of Israel believe in: I am of those who submit (to Allah in Islam)." (It was said to him): "Ah now!― but a little while before, wast thou in rebellion!― and thou didst mischief (and violence)!" (Yunus, 10/90-91)

Many more nations apart from the examples we have tried to give were destroyed. The main reason why they were destroyed was their oppression.
فَكَأَيِّنمِّنقَرْيَةٍأَهْلَكْنَاهَاوَهِيَظَالِمَةٌفَهِيَخَاوِيَةٌعَلَىعُرُوشِهَاوَبِئْرٍمُّعَطَّلَةٍوَقَصْرٍمَّشِيدٍ

"How many populations have We destroyed, which were given to wrong-doing? They tumbled down on their roofs. And how many wells are lying idle and neglected, and castles lofty and well-built? (al-Hajj, 22/45) Denying Allah, His prophets and His verses, associating partners with Allah, rebellion and oppression are the common properties of the nations that were destroyed. (14)

⦁ CONCLUSION

There is a certain lifespan for each nation in the world. When this predestinated time comes, it is not delayed. The nations living in the world are destroyed because of their polytheism, unbelief, rebellion and oppression. Allah never oppresses His slaves.

There are lessons for people in the stories of the previous nations. The stories of the destroyed nations are like that too.
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