The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 4) — Page 694
CH. 34 SABA' PT. 22 ذلِكَ جَزَيْنَهُمْ بِمَا كَفَرُوا وَهَلْ تُجْزِى That We requited them. 18 إِلَّا الْكَفُورَ because of their ingratitude; and none do We requite in this manner but the ungrateful. 3144 them and the towns which We b وَجَعَلْنَا بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ الْقُرَى الَّتِي رَكْنَا And We placed, between. 19 فِيْهَا قُرًى ظَاهِرَةً وَقَدَّرْنَا فِيهَا السَّيْرَ had blessed, other towns that سِيرُوا فِيهَا لَيَالِيَ وَأَيَّامًا أُمِنِينَ were prominently visible, and We fixed easy stages between them and said: 'Travel in them by nights and days in security. '3145 became corrupt. means, a dam or dams constructed in valleys or torrent-beds; or a torrent of which the rush is not to be withstood; or violent rain (Lane &Aqrab). Commentary: a Such is the irony of human circumstances that whenever man is blessed with material comforts and amenities of life and leads prosperous and successful life, then instead of being grateful to God for His blessings and favours, he becomes arrogant and begins to behave ungratefully and insolently. The Sabaeans were no exception to the common run of humanity. In the day of prosperity they fell into evil ways and defied and broke Divine laws. The inevitable nemesis seized them. The same dam of Ma'arib to which they owed all their wealth and prosperity caused their destruction. As the result of a mighty flood it burst and inundated the whole area causing wide-spread ruin. A land full of beautiful gardens, streams and great works of art was turned into vast waste. The dam was about two miles long and 120 ft. high. It was destroyed about the first or second century A. D. (Palmer). 3144. Commentary: This is how the ungrateful and the wicked are punished and the mighty are laid low. The verse constitutes a standing warning to Muslims to be on their guard against ingratitude and defiance of Divine commandments. 3145. Commentary: The words "the towns which we had blessed" refer to the towns of Palestine, the seat of Solomon's government with which the Sabaeans carried on prosperous trade. meaning towns situated so قرى ظاهرة a 2608 near to each other as to be easily visible; well known or prominent towns; towns situated on high ground, the verse shows that the route from Yemen to Palestine and Syria was very frequented, safe and prosperous and was densely populated and the towns in the way were situated so close to each other as to be easily visible.