Ways of life have passed away before you; so travel in the land and behold how was the end of those who denied. This is an exposition for mankind and a guidance and an admonition for such as are God-fearing. It means “Take heed from those who came before. Consider how We acted with those who showed friendship and how We took revenge on those who showed enmity.” This is an exposition for mankind: an exposition to some people through rational proofs adillat al-ʿuqūl to others through unveilings of hearts mukāshafāt al-qulūb and to others through the self-disclosure of the Real in the innermost selves tajallī l-ḥaqq fī l-asrār.
