Adh-Dhariyat 51:44

<h2>Lessons from the Destruction of Fir`awn, `Ad, Thamud, and the People of Nuh</h2><p>Allah the Exalted said,</p><p>وَفِى مُوسَى إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَـهُ إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ بِسُلْطَـنٍ مُّبِينٍ</p><p>(And in Musa, when We sent him to Fir`awn with a manifest authority.) meaning, with clear proof and plain evidence,</p><p>فَتَوَلَّى بِرُكْنِهِ</p><p>(But he turned away along with his hosts,) meaning, in rebellion and arrogance, Fir`awn turned away from the plain truth that Musa was sent with,</p><p>ثَانِىَ عِطْفِهِ لِيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ</p><p>(Bending his neck in pride, and leading (others) too (far) astray from the path of Allah.)(22:9 ), meaning turning away from truth in arrogance,</p><p>وَقَالَ سَـحِرٌ أَوْ مَجْنُونٌ</p><p>(and said: "A sorcerer, or a madman.") meaning Fir`awn said to Musa, "With regards to the message that you brought me, you are either a magician or a madman." Allah the Exalted replied,</p><p>فَأَخَذْنَـهُ وَجُنُودَهُ فَنَبَذْنَـهُمْ</p><p>(So We took him and his armies, and dumped them), meaning `We threw them,'</p><p>فِى الْيَمِّ</p><p>(into the Yamm), into the sea,</p><p>وَهُوَ مُلِيمٌ</p><p>(for he was blameworthy.) meaning, Fir`awn was a denying sinner and a stubborn disbeliever worthy of blame. Allah the Exalted and Most Honored said,</p><p>وَفِى عَادٍ إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ الرِّيحَ الْعَقِيمَ</p><p>(And in `Ad when We sent against them the barren wind) that destroys everything and produces nothing. This was said …

But they rebelled against their Lord's decree, and so the thunderbolt overtook them even while they gazed;

But they insolently defied the Command of their Lord: So the stunning noise (of an earthquake) seized them, even while they were looking on.

But they insolently defied the Command of their Lord, so the Sa'iqah overtook them while they were looking.

But they defied the command of their Lord, so the lightning struck them as they looked on.