Download PDF: [S] The Punishment upon a Village

It is reported that “Husur” was once a village in Yemen. Even before the arrival of Nabi Moosa bin Imran – peace be upon him – Allah Almighty had sent a Prophet to this village whose name was Nabi Moosa bin Meshaa – peace be upon him -. He was also the grandson of Nabi Yaqub – peace be upon him. However, the people in the village insulted him continuously and finally they killed him.

 

When this happened Allah Almighty sent his Divine Punishment on this village. They suddenly found themselves in immense difficulty and experienced calamity on a daily basis.

 

However, one of the greatest calamity which came to them was in the form of the tyrant, Bakht Nasr. He killed most of the men in this village and took the females as captives.  He also made sure that he destroyed the village brick by brick. When he started to slaughter the men folk some of them began to leave the village and run. However, at that moment, people could hear voices coming from the heavens, “O villagers, do not run, take your wealth and possessions and go back to your houses. Where are you running to? This is the punishment for behaving so badly with a Prophet of Allah.”

While these voices were heard from the heavens, the tyrant Bakht Nasr was busy slaughtering the men folk in this village. When the people in the village realised what they had done to a Prophet, they began to regret their actions, but it was too late. The Qur’an has also described the punishment of such people over the years.

 

In Surah Ambiyah (21), verses 11-13 the Qur’an declares:

 

وَکَمْ قَصَمْنَا مِنۡ قَرْیَۃٍ کَانَتْ ظَالِمَۃً وَّ اَنۡشَاۡنَا بَعْدَہَا قَوْمًا اٰخَرِیۡنَ ﴿۱۱﴾

فَلَمَّاۤ اَحَسُّوۡا بَاۡسَنَاۤ اِذَا ہُمۡ مِّنْہَا یَرْکُضُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۱۲﴾

لَاتَرْکُضُوۡا وَارْجِعُوۡۤا اِلٰی مَاۤ اُتْرِفْتُمْ فِیۡہِ وَ مَسٰکِنِکُمْ لَعَلَّکُمْ تُسْـَٔلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۳﴾

 

“And how many towns that were oppressing, We utterly destroyed and raised up another people after them. Then when they got Our torment, therefore they began to flee from it. Flee not, and return to those comforts, which were given to you and to your homes, haply you are to be questioned.”

 

The scholars of Qur’an have also explained that these verses also indicate to the many cities and villages which have been destroyed in the past such as during the time Nabi Nuh, Nabi Lut , Nabi Saleh and Nabi Shu’aib – peace be upon them – etc. (Tafseer Saawi. 2/60)

 

The killing of the Prophets, insulting them, and disrespecting them is considered as one of the greatest sin which a person or community can commit. There is no doubt that when a person or community is guilty of this, then without doubt, the Divine Punishment of Allah Almighty certainly descends upon that person or community.