Tafseer Ibn Kathir of AL A'RAAF [96]

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.) ï´¿10:98ï´¾ 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.) ï´¿37:147-148ï´¾ Allah said in another Ayah,

(And We did not send a warner to a township....) ï´¿34:34ï´¾ 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)!''