Reading the Quran, one can see many stories of entire nations that were destroyed by Allah SWT. The people of Noah pbuh. The people of Hud pbuh. The people of Lot pbuh. The people of Pharaoh who was opposed by Moses pbuh. Many others.
The destroyed nations all had one thing in common. They all rejected the messengers sent to them, and refused to worship Allah SWT. These messengers came to them, and called them out.
However, in most cases, they did something additional to preaching against the polytheism and lack of gratitude to their Creator that was running rampant in these places. Most of them also denounced the injustices and evils that were taking place in their societies. One thing that the rejectors (the word kafir in the Quran is often translated as “disbeliever” but it refers specifically to people who see the truth of Islam- something that every Prophet and messenger preached- but end up rejecting it anyways) of these nations had in common was arrogance.
When Noah pbuh preached the worship of the Almighty to his people, the notables sneered at him, saying “we see none who follow you, save the lowliest among us” (1). In other words, people whom that society saw as beneath them. Perhaps they were the poor. Perhaps the uneducated. Perhaps the slaves. The Quran doesn’t really clarify, and it isn’t our place to speculate. However, what is known is that among the very few there who followed Noah, it was the despised who did so.
The Ad people whom the prophet Hud pbuh came to, were notorious for their arrogance. They were asked by their prophet “Do you frivolously build on every high place a sign? And do you occupy castles, that haply you may ever abide?”(2) Though they were blessed cattle and children and gardens and springs, they were ungrateful to Allah SWT. They not were frivolous with their wealth, but would “strike as tyrants”(3). So they were not only consumed by pride and materialism, but would also attack other people.
While the people Lot pbuh are known to have been destroyed by Allah SWT to a large part for their same gender sexual intercourse (which, like male-female sexual intercourse outside of marriage, is condemned by Islaam as a sin), that isn’t the only reason they were called out by their prophet. They also would attack travelers and do them serious harm. Lot pbuh said unto them, “Truly you commit indecency such as none in the worlds committed before you. What! Do you come unto men, cut off the way and commit reprehensible deeds in your gatherings?”(4). What these “reprehensible deeds” were is unknown, but rape is implied given that they tried to forcefully commit sexual assault on the angels who came to get Lot pbuh and his family out of the city.
Pharaoh was one of the worst of the worst. In addition to proclaiming himself to be god, he also was perpetrating a policy of mass murder. In addition to enslaving the Israelite people in Egypt, Pharaoh also on at least two occasions (that the Quran tells us about), ordered their infant boys to be slaughtered. When Moses pbuh came to the Pharaoh, he called him out on his cruelty towards his oppressed people. In addition to being a mass murderer and a slaver, Pharaoh also was notoriously cruel towards anyone who disputed his arrogant proclamations of divinity. The sorcerers of his who decided to follow Moses pbuh were ordered to be put to death in a horrifying fashion. “I shall surely cut off your hands and feet on alternate sides, and I shall crucify you all!”(5) Unlike the nations of the previously mentioned prophets, Ancient Egypt was not destroyed but Pharaoh and his advisors and soldiers who went to pursue the Israelites, were.
These prophets- and all others- came with a message of monotheism. They called on the arrogant leaders of their time to turn to God. Even Pharaoh was called to submit, and given a chance at salvation. However, the prophets did not only address the lack of monotheistic belief that they witnessed in their surroundings. They also called out injustices. Slavery. Mass murder. Rape. Aggression. Arrogance. Very few people followed them, but more often than not it was the despised and persecuted and abused who did so.
A huge part of the submission to Allah SWT- something we are required to do if we are to have any chance of salvation- is not only praying and fasting and going on Pilgrimage, which are all extremely important and crucial things- but also just and decent treatment of other human beings. Those who are arrogant and abusive and oppressive towards the weak, are more often than not among those who end up rejecting God.
(1)11:26
(2) 26:128,129
(3) 26:130
(4) 29:28,29
7:125
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