``And how many a town We destroyed who were oppressors, and after it We brought on other people.''

      The Arabic, ``GHASAMA'' translated to ``destroyed'', literally means to; smashِto break in pieces by violence, or to destroy something utterly.

      such a violence and severity, implies that Allah may decree a very hard punishment for the oppressors for having based His creation upon justice.

      Then the next verse points out, how weak, helpless, and easily impressed, were the proud and haughty unbelievers, when God's punishment seized them:ِ

      ``When they felt the approach of our punishment, they fled out to avoid it, but in vain.''

      They seemed to have fallen in a panic! A sudden overpowering fright seized them, and they fled away just like a vanquished army who have the bare sword of the foe in front and in behind of them. Thus God's wrath may encompass the oppressors.

      When the thought of fleeing filled them with panic, and they decided to scape, they were ironically told:ِ

      ``Do not flee, and return to your beautiful houses that you have adorned with luxuries that you might be asked.''

      This verse, (NO.13) is an ironic expression which itself is the beginning of the punishment. Then the lamentation and tears of the unbelievers would avail them nothing for being too late. They were so at last that nothing could save them, except God, whose will is always done.

      The verse ends in the Arabic word, ``TASALOON'' which is from the root word, ``SO ALL''. It literally denotes to asking, but it also has many connotations, and shades of meaning such as:ِ To inquire of; to questionِto request, petitionِto demandِto claimِand to expect. Poor and needy people had to come to them in request of some help in charity, but they turned them out of their doors without giving them a hand. Here is where the verse of truth says to those who flee from the wrath of God:ِ

      ``Don't flee! Return to your luxuries that you have supplied, and to your beautiful houses, that you may be asked for a help for the sake of God.

      They are at last wakened up to see the realities of life. They find the things that they were jesting with, to have been more serious and grave than they thought. But this out of time wakefulness, will be of no use to them. Now they will have to continue with their catchword which is ``Woe to us'', until they are mowed and quietened and quenched!