SURAH (14) IBRAHEEM (AYA 1 to 10)

Sura (14) IBRAHEEM (Abraham) Aya 1 to 52 verses in 7 Sections

Revealed at Makka

SECTION 1

Qur’an revealed to Lead Mankind to Light

Qur’an revealed to take out mankind from Darkness and to lead them to Light---Those who prefer this world to the Heereafter are astray---Apostles of ALLAH were sent to preach the truth in the language of the people to whom they were sent---The ministry of Moses and his guidance to the Children of Israel referred to.

الر ۚ كِتَابٌ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ النَّاسَ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ {14:1}

[Q14:1] Alif-Laaam-Raa; Kitaabun anzalnaahu ilaika litukhrijan-naasa minaz zulumaati ilan noori bi-izni Rabbihim ilaa siraatil 'Azeezil Hameed.
[Q14:1] Alif Lam Ra. (This is) a Book which We have revealed to you that you may bring forth men, by their Lord's permission from utter darkness into light-- to the way of the Mighty, the Praised One,

[Q14:1] Alif, Laam, Raa'. Ini ialah Kitab (Al-Quran) Kami turunkan ia kepadamu (wahai Muhammad), supaya engkau mengeluarkan umat manusia seluruhnya dari gelap-gelita kufur kepada cahaya iman dengan izin Tuhan mereka ke jalan ALLAH (SwT) Yang Maha Kuasa lagi Maha Terpuji. 

For Alif, Lam, Ra (huruf muqatta-at) see commentary of al Baqarah 2:1.

©  "(This is) a book We have sent down to you" IMPLIES THAT THE WHOLE QUR’AN WAS REVEALED TO THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD) IN A COMPLETE BOOK FORM; IT WAS NEITHER EDITED NOR ARRANGED NOR COMPILED BY ANY ONE AFTER ITS REVELATION. See commentary of al Baqarah 2:2.

The purpose of the revelation of the book is to lead mankind out of the depths of darkness (ignorance and false beliefs) into the light of truth, knowledge and virtue. The divine guidance is for all mankind, not for a particular community or nation. Also see Araf 7:158 and Saba 34:28.

ALLAH (SWT)'S EXALTED POSITION IS ABOVE ALL CREATION; HIS GOODNESS IS ALL FOR THE GOOD OF MAN AND HIS CREATURES; HIS CONTROL OVER HIS CREATION IS COMPLETE; SO HE CARRIES OUT HIS WILL AND PLAN. ALL PRAISE BELONGS TO HIM.

The disbelievers love this ephemeral life and its vanities and reject the true life of the hereafter. By doing so they not only harm themselves BUT ALSO mislead others; and draw down on themselves the wrath to come. They search for something crooked in ALLAH (SWT)'s path and go farther and farther from the truth.

Surely those who hinder or lay obstruction in the path of ALLAH (SWT) include those who had harassed, persecuted and killed the children of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) by corrupting the true faith and introducing the false doctrines of the days of ignorance, so they are rightly condemned and cursed as the infidels.

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(14:1) Alif Lam Ra.

اللَّهِ الَّذِي لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ وَوَيْلٌ لِلْكَافِرِينَ مِنْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيدٍ {14:2}

[Q14:2] ‘Allaahil lazee lahoo maa fis samaawaati wa maa fill ard; wa wailul lilkaafireena min 'azaabin shadeed. 
[Q14:2] (Of) ALLAH (SWT), Whose is whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth; and woe to the unbelievers on account of the severe chastisement,

[Q14:2] ALLAH (SwT) jua yang memiliki segala yang ada di langit serta yang ada di bumi dan kecelakaan besar bagi orang-orang yang kufur ingkar (terhadap Al-Quran) dari azab yang amat berat (yang akan menimpa mereka kelak).  

(see commentary for verse 1)

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(14:2) O Muhammad! this is a Book which We have sent down to you so that you may bring mankind by the help of their Lord out of the dark ways (of ignorance) into the Light (of knowledge) to the Way of that God, *1 Who is All-Powerful and inherently worthy of All Praise *2 and the Owner of whatever is in the heavens and the earth.

*1 This is the purpose for which the Holy Prophet had been sent. He was entrusted with the mission that he should bring mankind back from the ways of darkness (ways of wickedness) into the Way of God by the help of the Light of the Qur'an. For everyone, who is not on the Way of God, is, in fact, wandering about in the ways of the darkness (of ignorance), even though he might consider himself to be very enlightened and full of knowledge. On the other hand, the one who finds the Way of Allah, comes into the Light of Knowledge, even though he might be an illiterate person.
As regards "by the help of their Lord", this implies that the most a missionary of Islam (even though he be a Messenger of Allah) can do is to present the Right Way. It is not in his power to bring anyone forcibly to the Way, for this can only happen by the help and permission of Allah. That is why only that person whom AIIah helps and permits gets guidance: otherwise even a perfect Missionary like a Messenger fails to bring a person to the Way. As regards the Divine Law, according to which Allah helps and permits a person to gain guidance, we learn from different passages of the Qur'an that Allah gives help only to that person who himself has a desire to get guidance: who frees himself from obduracy, obstinacy and prejudice: who is not a follower of his lust, nor a slave of his desires: who is inclined to see with open eyes) and hear with open cars and think with a clear mind, and is ready w accede to any reasonable thing. 
*2 The word (Hamid) is more comprehensive than (Mahmud). A person will be entitled to be Mahmud only when he is praised. But the Being Who is Hamid, is naturally and permanently worthy of praise, whether anyone praises Hun or not, because the element of praise is inherent in Him and is inseparable from Him. 

الَّذِينَ يَسْتَحِبُّونَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا عَلَى الْآخِرَةِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَيَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ فِي ضَلَالٍ بَعِيدٍ {14:3}

[Q14:3] Allazeena yastahibboo nal hayaatad dunyaa 'alal aakhirati wa yasuddoona 'ansabeelil laahi wa yabghoonahaa 'iwajaa; ulaaa 'ika fee dalaalim ba'eed. 
[Q14:3] (To) those who love this world's life more than the hereafter, and turn away from ALLAH (SWT)'s path and desire to make it crooked; these are in a great error.

[Q14:3] Orang-orang yang mengutamakan dunia lebih daripada akhirat dan menghalangi manusia dari jalan agama ALLAH (SwT), serta menghendaki jalan itu menjadi bengkok terpesong, mereka itulah orang-orang yang terjerumus ke dalam kesesatan yang jauh terpesongnya. 

(see commentary for verse 1)

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(14:3) And there is a painful torment for those who reject the Truth: who love the life of this world more than the life pf the Hereafter: *3 who debar people from Allah's Way and want to make this Way crooked *4 (to suit their wishes). They have gone far astray from the Way of Allah.

*3 Those who reject the Truth are the people whose interests are entirely bound with the life of this world, and who do not care at all for the interests of the life of the Hereafter: who are prepared to undergo any punishment in the Next World for the sake of the interests, pleasures and comforts of this world: who, on the other hand, cannot bear the sacrifice of even the smallest pleasure in this world, nor are ready to bear any loss or encounter danger or trouble in this world for the sake of the joys of the Next World. In short, such are the people who have coolly considered and weighed the pleasures of this world against the joys of the Next World, and decided in favour of this world: therefore, they readily sacrifice the interest of the Next World whenever there is a clash between the two. 
*4 That is, "They do not want to follow the Way of AIIah, but endeavour that Allah's Way should follow their desires: it should adjust itself in such a way as to include all their conjectures, theories and whims as its part and parcel, and exclude every creed that dces not suit their way of life: it should provide sanction for aII their habits, customs and manners: it should not demand from them anything which they do not like: in short, the Way of AIIah should be their obedient slave and turn in the direction their devilish lusts want it to turn: nay, it should neither criticize them nor ask them to follow Allah's injunctions. This is their condition for accepting the Guidance of Allah". 

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ رَسُولٍ إِلَّا بِلِسَانِ قَوْمِهِ لِيُبَيِّنَ لَهُمْ ۖ فَيُضِلُّ اللَّهُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ {14:4}

[Q14:4] Wa maaa arsalnaa mir Rasoolin illaa bilisaani qawmihee liyubaiyina lahum faiudillul laahu mai yashaaa'u wa yahde mai yashaaa'; wa Huwal 'Azeezul Hakeem. 
[Q14:4] And We did not send any messenger but with the language of his people, so that he might explain to them clearly; then ALLAH (SWT) makes whom He pleases err and He guides whom He pleases and He is the Mighty, the Wise.

[Q14:4] Dan Kami tidak mengutuskan seseorang Rasul melainkan dengan bahasa kaumnya supaya dia menjelaskan (hukum-hukum ALLAH (SwT)) kepada mereka. Maka ALLAH (SwT) menyesatkan sesiapa yang dikehendakiNya (menurut undang-undang peraturanNya), juga memberi hidayat petunjuk kepada sesiapa yang dikehendakiNya (menurut undang-undang peraturanNya); dan Dialah jua Yang Maha Kuasa, lagi Maha Bijaksana.

TO EVERY PEOPLE WAS SENT A MESSENGER OF ALLAH (SWT) WHO CONVEYED THE DIVINE MESSAGE TO THEM IN THEIR LANGUAGE, BUT IT DID NOT RESTRICT HIS MISSION TO THAT PARTICULAR PEOPLE. THROUGH THEM IT REACHED ALL MANKIND. The most distressed area was selected to start the campaign of "guidance unto order through knowledge of divine laws'' to put an end to disorder and ignorance prevailing in the society, which also served other such areas. As a matter of course the language of the people who were originally addressed had to be used. Although the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) was sent with a book in Arabic, his mission was universal. To say that his mission was restricted to the Arabic speaking people is an unclad for restriction of his universal mission.

ACCORDING TO BIBLE prophet Isa was sent to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and to them alone" (Matthew 15:24) to whom he spoke in Hebrew, and he himself restricted his field of activity to the children of Israel as stated in the New Testament; and further, Matthew 10:5 says that Isa sent out his twelve disciples with the instructions: "Do not take the road to gentile lands, and do not enter any Samaritan town; but go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel," but today he is accepted as a universal teacher.

As a matter of fact Nisa 4:79; Araf 7:158; Bani Israil 17:105; Anbiya 22:107; Ahzab 33:45 and Saba 34:28 clearly proclaim that Islam is an universal religion for all peoples in all times.

The final book of ALLAH (SWT) AND the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) were sent as "the mercy unto the worlds". To understand the true meanings of their teachings for universal application attachment with the Ahlul Bayt has been made obligatory through hadith al thaqalayn.

v  The Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) said:

"I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate."

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(14:4) Whenever We sent a Messenger' to convey Our Message, he delivered it in the language of his people so that he may make it plain to them. *5 Then Allah lets go astray whomsoever He wills and shows Guidance to whomsoever He desires: *6 `He is All-Powerful, All-Wise. *7

*5 This implies two things: First, AIIah sent down His Message in the language of the people from among whom a Prophet was raised so that they might not have any excuse left that they could not understand the language of the Message. Secondly, this ruled out the presumption that a Messenger was ever given the Message in a different language merely for the sake of a miracle. For Allah considered it more important to make the people understand the Message and guide them rightly than to satisfy their curiosity. Obviously the purpose could best be served only if the Message was sent down to them in their own language by their Prophet and not in any other.
*6 That is, "Although the Messenger conveys the Message in the mother tongue of the people, which is understood by every one of them, yet all of them are not guided aright. This happens because of the fact that aII of those who understand a Message do not necessarily accept it. For it is entirely with AIIah to show guidance by means of His Message to anyone He wills and to Iet go astray anyone inspite of it." 
*7 As Allah is All-Powerful, no one is able by oneself to get guidance or to go astray, for none is completely independent but is under the power of AIlah. But as He is AlI-Wise, He does not use His power blindly so as to show guidance to anyone He wills and to Iet go astray anyone He desires without rhyme or reason. In fact, the one who gets guidance from Him gets it on merit and the one who is let go astray is deprived of guidance because he himself deliberately chooses deviation. 

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا مُوسَىٰ بِآيَاتِنَا أَنْ أَخْرِجْ قَوْمَكَ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ وَذَكِّرْهُمْ بِأَيَّامِ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِكُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَكُورٍ {14:5}

[Q14:5] Wa laqad arsalnaa Moosaa bi Aayaatinaa an akhrij qawmaka minaz zulumaati ilan noori wa zak kirhum bi ayyaamil laah; inna fee zaalika la aayaatil likulli sabbaarin shakoor. 
[Q14:5] And certainly We sent Musa with Our communications, saying: Bring forth your people from utter darkness into light and remind them of the days of ALLAH (SWT); most surely there are signs in this for every patient, grateful one.

[Q14:5] Dan sesungguhnya Kami telah mengutuskan Nabi Musa (pada masa yang lalu) dengan membawa mukjizat-mukjizat Kami sambil Kami berfirman: Hendaklah engkau mengeluarkan kaummu dari gelap-gelita kufur kepada cahaya iman dan ingatkanlah mereka dengan Hari-hari ALLAH (SwT). Sesungguhnya yang demikian itu, mengandungi tanda-tanda yang menunjukkan kekuasaan ALLAH (SwT) bagi tiap-tiap seorang yang kuat bersabar, lagi kuat bersyukur.

"The days of ALLAH (SWT)" refers to any period in which a new development takes place in the course of evolution -# the six days in which the process of creation of the heavens and the earth took place, # the period of the geological changes, # the rise and fall of the nations, # any celestial or terrestrial changes, # the intermediary stages to the day of resurrection and the life of the hereafter, and # the events mentioned in the subsequent verses are all ayyamillah.

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(14:5) We sent Moses also before this with Our Signs: and We commanded him, "Bring your people out of all kinds of darkness into Light and admonish, them to learn lessons from the Divine History." *8 There are great Signs *9 in this for every steadfast and grateful person. *10

*8 The Arabic word (ayyam) technically means memorable historical events. Therefore (Ayyam-u-Allah) (Divine History) implies all those eventful chapters of human history which mention the rewards and punishments that were meted out to the great personalities and nations according to their deeds in the past ages. 
*9 Those historical events are Signs in this sense that their proper and intelligent study provides proofs of the fact that there is only one God: and that the Law of Retribution is universal and is based absolutely on the differentiation between the knowledge and moral practice of the Truth and falsehood: that this Law also requires another world (the Hereafter) for its due fulfilment. Moreover, these events contain Signs that serve as warnings against the evil consequences of building up systems of life on false creeds and theories, and help one to learn lessons from them. 
*10 Though these Signs are always there, only those persons learn lessons from them who remain steadfast in trials and appreciate the blessings of Allah rightly and are grateful to Him. Obviously, frivolous and ungrateful persons cannot learn any lesson from these Signs, even though they might grasp their significance. 

وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ أَنْجَاكُمْ مِنْ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَسُومُونَكُمْ سُوءَ الْعَذَابِ وَيُذَبِّحُونَ أَبْنَاءَكُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيُونَ نِسَاءَكُمْ ۚ وَفِي ذَٰلِكُمْ بَلَاءٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌ {14:6}

[Q14:6] Wa iz qaala Moosaa liqawmihiz kuroo ni'matal laahi 'alaikum iz anjaakum min Aali Fir'awna yasoomoo nakum sooo'al 'azaabi wa yuzabbihoona abnaaa'akum wa yastahyoona nisaaa'akum; wa fee zaalikum balaaa'um mir Rabbikum 'azeem. 
[Q14:6] And when Musa said to his people: Call to mind ALLAH (SWT)'s favor to you when He delivered you from Firon's people, who subjected you to severe torment, and slew your sons and spared your women; and in this there was a great trial from your Lord.

[Q14:6] Dan (ingatlah) ketika Nabi Musa berkata kepada kaumnya: Kenanglah nikmat ALLAH (SwT) kepada kamu, semasa Dia menyelamatkan kamu dari Firaun dan orang-orangnya yang sentiasa menyeksa kamu dengan berbagai seksa yang buruk dan mereka pula menyembelih anak-anak lelaki kamu dan membiarkan hidup anak-anak perempuan kamu dan kejadian yang demikian itu mengandungi bala bencana dan cubaan yang besar dari Tuhan kamu. 

Refer to the commentary of al Baqarah 2:49

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(14:6) Recall (the time) when Moses said to his people, "Remember Allah's favour on you: He delivered you from Pharaoh's people who oppressed you with cruel afflictions: they slaughtered your sons and let your females live. In this there was a hard trial for you from your Lord.

SECTION 2

Moses exhortation

Moses exhorts his people to accept the truth---The exhortations of the other Apostles of ALLAH were first rejected---People demanding miracles from the apostles---The disbelievers’ attachment to false belief and the wrong conduct of their ancestors.

وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِنْ شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ۖ وَلَئِنْ كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِي لَشَدِيدٌ {14:7}

[Q14:7] Wa iz ta azzana Rabbukum la'in shakartum la azeedannakum wa la'in kafartum inn'azaabee lashadeed. 
[Q14:7] And when your Lord made it known: If you are grateful, I would certainly give to you more, and if you are ungrateful, My chastisement is truly severe.

[Q14:7] Dan (ingatlah) ketika Tuhan kamu memberitahu: Demi sesungguhnya! Jika kamu bersyukur nescaya Aku akan tambahi nikmatKu kepada kamu dan demi sesungguhnya, jika kamu kufur ingkar sesungguhnya azabKu amatlah keras. 

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(14:7) And remember also that your Lord forewarned, `If you be grateful *11 I will increase My favours on you, and if you be ungrateful (you should know that) My chastisement is severe indeed'!" *12

*11 That is, "If you are grateful, you will appreciate Our favours and make right use of them, and will not rebel against Our Commandments, but will surrender and submit to Us to show your gratitude to Us." 
*12 Deuteronomy (Bible) contains a long and detailed discourse to this effect. According to it, Prophet Moses, on the eve of his death, reminded the Israelites of all important events from their history, and reiterated all the Divine Commandments of the Torah which Allah had sent to them through him. Then he told them in a long speech that if they obeyed their Lord, they would be given great rewards. But if they adopted the attitude of disobedience, they would get a terrible punishment. This discourse spreads over chapters 4, 6, 8, 10, 11 and 2830. Some of these passages arc so impressive and instructive that it will be worthwhile to quote a few of them:
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. . . . "(Deut. 6: 47)
"And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways; and to love him, and to serve the Lord Thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, to keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good? Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is thy Lord's thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is." (Deut. 10: 12-14)
"And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God. Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face....The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto....The Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto himself....And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee....and thou shalt Iend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath...." (28: 1-13).
"But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do aII his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that alI those curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.. . . The Lord shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do. . . . The Lord shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee,  . . . .And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron....The Lord shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them:....Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build an house and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not gather the grapes thereof. Thine ox shall be slain before thine eyes....Therefore. shalt thou serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee....And the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other:...." (Deut: 28: 15-64). 

وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ إِنْ تَكْفُرُوا أَنْتُمْ وَمَنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَغَنِيٌّ حَمِيدٌ {14:8}

[Q14:8] Wa qaala Moosaaa in takfurooo antum wa man fil ardi jamee'an fa innal laaha la Ghaniyyun Hameed. 
[Q14:8] And Musa said: If you are ungrateful, you and those on earth all together, most surely ALLAH (SWT) is Self-sufficient, Praised;

[Q14:8] Dan Nabi Musa berkata: Kalau kamu dan sesiapa jua yang ada di muka bumi seluruhnya berlaku kufur ingkar, maka (hal yang demikian tidak merugikan ALLAH (SwT)), kerana sesungguhnya ALLAH (SwT) adalah Maha Kaya, lagi Maha Terpuji. 

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(14:8) And Moses said, "If you prove thankless, you and all the dwellers of the earth know that Allah does not stand in need of any of you, for He is All Sufficient and worthy of all praise by Himself." *13

*13 It should be noted that a reference to Prophet Moses and his people has been made here to warn the people of Makkah of the consequences of their ingratitude towards this favour of Allah that He had raised Prophet Muhammad (Allah's peace be upon him) from among them. This was a timely warning, for at that time they were showing ingratitude by rejecting that Message. They were, therefore, warned to learn a lesson from the miserable condition of the Israelites, which was the result of their ingratitude to and rebellion against Allah's favours.
As the Quraish themselves could see the consequences of that rebellious attitude of the Israelites, they were, so to say, asked this question: "Do you also desire to meet with the same consequences by showing ingratitude towards the Message which is a great favour to you?"
Obviously, the great favour which was shown to the Quraish was that Muhammad (Allah's peace be upon him) was raised from among them with that Message about which he assured them over and over again: "Accept this Message of mine: all the Arabs and the non-Arabs will surrender and submit to you?" 

أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ نَبَأُ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ وَعَادٍ وَثَمُودَ ۛ وَالَّذِينَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ ۛ لَا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا اللَّهُ ۚ جَاءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ فَرَدُّوا أَيْدِيَهُمْ فِي أَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَقَالُوا إِنَّا كَفَرْنَا بِمَا أُرْسِلْتُمْ بِهِ وَإِنَّا لَفِي شَكٍّ مِمَّا تَدْعُونَنَا إِلَيْهِ مُرِيبٍ {14:9}

[Q14:9] Alam yaatikum naba'ul lazeena min qablikum qawmi Noohinw wa 'Aadinw wa Samood, wallazeena mim ba'dihim; laa ya'lamuhum illallaah; jaaa'at hum Rusuluhum bilbaiyinaati faraddooo aydiyahum feee afwaahihim wa qaalooo innaa kafarnaa bimaaa ursiltum bihee wa innaa lafee shakkim mimmaa tad'oonanaaa ilaihi mureeb. 
[Q14:9] Has not the account reached you of those before you, of the people of Nuh and Ad and Samood, and those after them? None knows them but ALLAH (SWT). Their messengers come to them with clear arguments, but they thrust their hands into their mouths and said: Surely we deny that with which you are sent, and most surely we are in serious doubt as to that to which you invite us.

[Q14:9] (Mengapa kamu masih berdegil) bukankah telah datang kepada kamu khabar berita orang-orang yang terdahulu daripada kamu, iaitu kaum Nabi Nuh dan Aad juga Thamud serta orang-orang yang kemudian daripada mereka? Tiada sesiapapun yang mengetahui bilangan mereka melainkan ALLAH (SwT). Mereka telah didatangi oleh rasul-rasul mereka dengan membawa keterangan-keterangan yang nyata, lalu mereka meletakkan tangan mereka ke mulut mereka sambil berkata: Sesungguhnya kami kufur ingkarkan apa yang (mengikut dakwaan kamu) kamu diutus membawanya dan sesungguhnya kami adalah dalam keadaan yang meragukan terhadap iman dan tauhid yang kamu ajak kami kepadanya.

Refer to the commentary of Araf 7:59 to 156 and Hud 11:25 to 98 for the people of Nuh, the Ad and the Thamud and those after them.

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(14:9) Has *14 not the story reached you of those who have gone before you of the people of Noah and Ad and Thamud, and of those who came after them? Allah alone knows their number. When their Messengers came to them with plain teachings and manifest Signs, they thrust their hands into their mouths, *15 saying, "We reject the Message with which you have been sent and we have a disquieting doubt about that thing *16 to which you are inviting us."

*14 The speech of Prophet Moses ended with v. 8. From here begins a direct address to the disbelievers of Makkah. 
*15 There has been a great deal of difference of opinion in regard to the meaning of the Arabic words of the Text and different commentators have assigned different meanings to them. But we arc of the opinion that these express merely the intolerance and perplexity and a bit of anger that was being shown by the disbelievers towards the Message and this is confirmed by the subsequent sentence.
*16  

قَالَتْ رُسُلُهُمْ أَفِي اللَّهِ شَكٌّ فَاطِرِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۖ يَدْعُوكُمْ لِيَغْفِرَ لَكُمْ مِنْ ذُنُوبِكُمْ وَيُؤَخِّرَكُمْ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى ۚ قَالُوا إِنْ أَنْتُمْ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِثْلُنَا تُرِيدُونَ أَنْ تَصُدُّونَا عَمَّا كَانَ يَعْبُدُ آبَاؤُنَا فَأْتُونَا بِسُلْطَانٍ مُبِينٍ {14:10}

[Q14:10] Qaalat Rusuluhum afillaahi shakkun faatiris samaawaati wal ardi yad'ookum liyaghfira lakum min zunoobikum wa yu'akhkhirakum ilaaa ajalim musam maa; qaaloo in antum illaa basharum mislunaa tureedoona an tasuddoonaa 'ammaa kaana ya'budu aabaaa'unaa faatoonaa bisul taanim mubeen.
[Q14:10] Their messengers said: Is there doubt about ALLAH (SWT), the Maker of the heavens and the earth? He invites you to forgive you your faults and to respite you till an appointed term. They said: You are nothing but mortals like us; you wish to turn us away from what our fathers used to worship; bring us therefore some clear authority.

[Q14:10] Rasul-rasul mereka bertanya: Patutkah berlakunya sebarang keraguan tentang wujudnya ALLAH (SwT), yang menciptakan langit dan bumi? Dia menyeru kamu beriman kerana hendak membersih dan melepaskan kamu dari dosa-dosa kamu dan memberi tempoh kepada kamu hingga ke suatu masa yang tertentu. Mereka menjawab: Kamu tidak lain hanyalah manusia seperti kami. Kamu bertujuan hendak menyekat kami daripada menyembah apa yang telah disembah oleh datuk nenek kami. Oleh itu, bawalah kepada kami satu bukti yang jelas nyata. 

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(14:10) The Messengers said, "Do you have doubt about the existence of Allah. Who is the Creator of the heavens and the earth? *17 He calls you that He may forgive you your sins and give you respite till your appointed term." *18

*17 The Messengers posed this question to those who rejected the Message in order to bring home to them the absurdity of their stand with regard to God. For though the mushriks of every age believed in the existence of God and acknowledged that He was the Creator of the heavens and the earth, they did not accept the Message, its logical result, that He alone was entitled to their worship. That is why the Messengers asked them, "Do you have any doubt about the existence of Allah?"
*18 In the case of individuals, the `appointed term' may be either the time of one's death or the Doomsday. As regards the `appointed term' for the rise and fall of communities, it is determined by their collective behaviour. For instance, if a capable community degenerates before the expiry of its term, the assigned period is shortened and it is deposed. On the other hand, if a degenerate community changes its ways for the better, its term is extended, So much so that it may extend even to the Doomsday. This same thing is implied in v. 11 of Ar-R'ad:"...The fact is that AIlah dces not change a people's lot unless they themselves change their own characteristics ....."