Commentary on Tafsir al-Jalalayn: ((If they turn away)) that is, the disbelievers of Makkah from faith after this clarification ((then say, I have warned you)) I have frightened you ((of a thunderbolt

Then Allah the Exalted said—and this is the beginning of the lesson—: to the end of it. The commentator said: "

If they turn away

فإن أعرضوا

that is, the disbelievers of Makkah" It is known that the verse did not explicitly mention the disbelievers of Makkah, but the context indicates that, where it said: "

If they turn away

فإن أعرضوا

that is, the disbelievers of Makkah from faith after this clarification

Then say, I have warned you

فقل أنذرتكم

I have frightened you

a thunderbolt like the thunderbolt [that struck] 'Aad and Thamud.

صاعِقَةً مثلَ صَاعِقَةِ عادٍ وثمود

[Fussilat 41:13]

that is, a punishment that will destroy you like the one that destroyed them" The author explained the warning as frightening, and that is correct, because the one who warns is: the one who speaks words that frighten others. For this reason, it was said that a warning is information that includes frightening. And his saying: a thunderbolt is what causes a person to be struck, that is, to be destroyed The likeness here does not necessitate—may Allah know best—similarity in every aspect, but rather a likeness in the original destruction or in the outcome of the punishment. It is possible that Allah the Exalted warned them of a thunderbolt like that of 'Aad and Thamud. The thunderbolt of 'Aad and Thamud was of two types: the earthquake and the severe wind. Those who were destroyed by the severe wind were 'Aad, and those who were destroyed by the earthquake and the shout were Thamud. Allah mentioned 'Aad and Thamud because the Arabs knew them; they would pass by the dwellings of Thamud when they went to the Levant, and they also knew the location of 'Aad in al-Ahqaf, and they would mention and transmit what happened to them of punishment. Otherwise, there were also people whom Allah Mighty and Majestic destroyed, but since these people—meaning 'Aad and Thamud—were those whom the Arabs, that is, the disbelievers of Makkah, knew, He specified them. They are the people of Hud, and they are the people of Salih. 'Aad was destroyed by the wind, and the wisdom behind that is that Allah Mighty and Majestic would show them their weakness, for they had boasted of their strength and said: So Allah the Exalted said: , and as for Thamud, Allah Mighty and Majestic destroyed them by an earthquake, with a shaking and a shout; they were shouted at and the earth shook beneath them, and they were destroyed.