Mufti Menk – Lessons from previous civilisations

			My brothers and sisters, Allah asks us to hammer home to Allah to travel the earth, looking at what
has happened to the previous nations, in order for us to take heed and to learn a lesson. And Allah
subhanho wa Taala also instructs us to read about the previous nations. Therefore, in the Quran, in
many places he has told he has told us about the previous nations, what they were involved in the
messengers that came to them what exactly those messengers said how the response was, and the time
they were given thereafter, the type of punishment that they received. And Allah says, All these
stories have in them lessons for those with sound intellect. In the same way, Allah says, if you
		

			were to travel the land, you will see people whom we've destroyed before you, they had more than
you, they were much more powerful than you don't think for a moment that Allah is incapable of
dealing with you. Now, I know this might sound harsh to some, but it is necessary as a reminder, and
Allah subhanho wa Taala is simply trying to bring us closer to him in many different ways, giving us
the reminders of being good. The reminders of obeying instruction, as well as staying away from
prohibition, what would happen if we were to leave the instructions or engage in the prohibitions,
and what happened to those in the past, who did not obey? So Allah subhanho wa Taala tells us in
		

			verse number six, as well as in fact, verse number six and 11 of this particular Surah Surah Al
anon. Allah says, Allah May Allah will come
		

			calling him calling him makan, whom fill up a melanoma Killa comm Do they not see how many of the
previous generations we have destroyed before them
		

			whom we had actually given much more than what we had given them? Subhana Allah, and then Allah
says, Allah zero will be from God, okay for people to look at VB say, travel on the earth, and then
see what has happened to those who belied us Subhana Allah, I think this is something important
because when we read the stories of the previous nations, as much as there is a warning within them,
there is a sense of comfort that justice does prevail. There is a sense of comfort for those who are
oppressed, that oppression does not last. Take a look at the Prophet Noah, the prophet Abraham, the
prophet Ishmael, and all of these is married to his Salah May peace be upon them all. Ibrahim Alayhi
		

			Salam in the Arabic language. Take a look at Musa Moses May peace be upon him What happened? How was
the pharaoh destroyed? In all of these stories, there is comfort, comfort for those who are being
wronged and oppressed, that you know what the Almighty is punishment is definitely real. He has done
it in the past and he will do it in the future. But at the same time, the warning is for us to if
you are an oppressor, if you are creating crises in the lives of those who are innocent, Subhan
Allah, you need to know Allah subhanho wa Taala will only give you a short time after which he will
catch up with you. May Allah Subhana Allah Allah grant us a lesson from all angles, like I say
		

			comfort for those in crisis and a warning for those who are creating crises. May Allah subhanho wa
Taala truly bless every single one of us.