Tafheem ul Quran

Surah 17 Al-Isra, Ayat 59-59

وَمَا مَنَعَنَاۤ اَنۡ نُّرۡسِلَ بِالۡاٰيٰتِ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ كَذَّبَ بِهَا الۡاَوَّلُوۡنَ​ؕ وَاٰتَيۡنَا ثَمُوۡدَ النَّاقَةَ مُبۡصِرَةً فَظَلَمُوۡا بِهَا​ؕ وَمَا نُرۡسِلُ بِالۡاٰيٰتِ اِلَّا تَخۡوِيۡفًا‏ ﴿17:59﴾

(17:59) Nothing hindered Us from sending Our Signs67 except that the people of olden times rejected them as lies. We publicly sent the she-camel to the Thamud to open their eyes but they wronged her.68 We never send Our Signs except to cause people to fear.69


Notes

67. Here signs mean those visible miracles which are presented as a proof of Prophethood. The disbelievers from among the Quraish were demanding such signs over and over again.

68. This is to warn the disbelievers, as if to say: It is the mercy of Allah that He is not showing such a sign so that you might mend your ways but in your folly you presume that such a sign cannot be presented. You should know that a sign is not being sent because its denial inevitably brings chastisement and the community is annihilated. You can learn from the past history that those communities which disbelieved in the open signs were utterly destroyed, such as the people of Thamud.

69. That is, miracles are not shown for fun. These are meant to warn the people that the Prophet is being helped by the Almighty and that they should realize the terrible consequences of disobedience.