Transliteration:( Wa law anna ahlal quraaa aamanoo wattaqaw lafatahnaa 'alaihim barakaatim minas samaaa'i wal ardi wa laakin kazzaboo fa akhaznaahum bimaa kaanoo yaksiboon )
And if the people of the towns had believed and feared Allah, We would have certainly opened for them blessings (229) from the sky and the earth. But they denied the truth, so We seized them for what they used to earn (230).
This verse clearly shows that Iman (faith) and Taqwa (piety) bring about divine blessings—both spiritual and material. If the people had believed, blessings would have rained down from the heavens and gushed forth from the earth. This verse is a divine formula: belief + taqwa = barakah. Acts like Salatul Istisqa (prayer for rain) and Salatul Kusoof (eclipse prayer) are examples of how good deeds invite Allah’s mercy even in this world.
When people reject divine truth, they earn the consequences of their actions. Allah's punishment does not discriminate in worldly terms—when a corrupt society faces divine wrath, even animals and children may suffer as part of a collective fate. The metaphor “weevil is also ground with wheat” reminds us that in worldly consequences, even the innocent may be affected by the sins of the majority. This does not reflect injustice, but the interconnected nature of society.
96. And if the people of the towns had believed and had Taqwa, certainly, We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth, but they belied (the Messengers). So We took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn. 97. Did the people of the towns then feel secure against the coming of Our punishment by night while they were asleep 98. Or, did the people of the towns then feel secure against the coming of Our punishment in the forenoon while they were playing 99. Did they then feel secure against Allah’s plan None feels secure from Allah’s plan except the people who are the losers.
Allah mentions here the little faith of the people of the towns to whom He sent Messengers. In another instance, Allah said,
(Was there any town (community) that believed (after seeing the punishment), and its faith (at that moment) saved it (from the punishment) — Except the people of Yunus; when they believed, We removed from them the torment of disgrace in the life of the (present) world, and permitted them to enjoy for a while.) ﴿10:98﴾ This Ayah indicates that no city believed in its entirety, except the city of Prophet Yunus, for they all believed after they were stricken by punishment. Allah said (about Prophet Yunus),
(And We sent him to a hundred thousand (people) or even more. And they believed; so We gave them enjoyment for a while.) ﴿37:147-148﴾ Allah said in another Ayah,
(And We did not send a warner to a township….) ﴿34:34﴾ Allah said here,
(And if the people of the towns had believed and had Taqwa. ..) meaning their hearts had faith in what the Messenger brought them, believed and obeyed him, and had Taqwa by performing the acts of obedience and abstaining from the prohibitions,
(We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth,) in reference to the rain that falls from the sky and the vegetation of the earth. Allah said,
(but they belied (the Messengers). So We took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn.) They denied their Messengers, so that We punished them and sent destruction on them as a result of the sins and wickedness that they earned. Allah then said, while warning and threatening against defying His orders and daring to commit His prohibitions,
(Did the people of the towns then feel secure),meaning the disbelievers among them,
(that should come to them our punishment), Our torment and punishing example,
(Bayatan) during the night,
(while they were asleep Or, did the people of the towns then feel secure against the coming of Our punishment in the forenoon while they were playing) while they are busy in their affairs and unaware.
(Did they then feel secure against Allah’s plan) His torment, vengeance, and His power to destroy them while they are inattentive and heedless,
(None feels secure from Allah’s plan except the people who are the losers.) Al-Hasan Al-Basri said, “The believer performs the acts of worship, all the while feeling fear, in fright and anxiety. The Fajir (wicked sinner, or disbeliever) commits the acts of disobedience while feeling safe (from Allah’s torment)!”
(7:96) Had the people of those towns believed and been God-fearing, We would certainly have opened up to them blessings from the heavens and the earth; but they gave the lie [to their Prophets] and so We seized them for their deeds. so.
There is no commentary by Abul Maududi available for this verse.
[385]- Of blame for their sin.
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