and follow a path other than theirs. For this reason, Allah—glory be to Him—has preserved the remains of those who denied the messengers, so that we may learn from them and heed the warning, lest we act as they did and suffer what befell them. As He, Most High, says:

“Indeed, We will bring down upon the people of this town a punishment from heaven because of their defiant disobedience. And We have certainly left a clear sign of it for people who use reason.”

He, Most High, also says:

“Then We destroyed the others. Indeed, you pass by their ruins in the morning and at night. Will you not then use reason?”

That is, you pass by them during the day, in the morning, and at night. Then He says: “Will you not then use reason?”

Concerning the towns of the people of Lot, He, Most High, says:

“And We rained down upon them stones of baked clay. Surely in that are signs for those who discern. And those towns lie along an established route.”

This means that their towns lie along an established road, where those passing by can see them.

He, Most High, also says:

“Have they not travelled through the land and seen what was the fate of those before them?”

Such passages occur frequently in the Noble Book: Allah—glory be to Him—tells of the destruction of those who opposed the messengers and the deliverance of their followers.

Thus, in Surah al-Shuarā, He—glory be to Him—relates the accounts of Moses, Abraham, Noah, Ād, Thamūd, Lot, and Shuayb. For each prophet, He mentions how He destroyed those who denied him and saved him and his followers. He then concludes the account with His words:

“Surely in that is a sign, yet most of them were not believers. And indeed, your Lord is the Almighty, the Most Merciful.”

Thus He concludes the account with two of His names appropriate to what has been described: “And He is the Almighty, the Most Merciful.” Through His might He exacted retribution upon His enemies, and through His mercy He saved His messengers and their followers.