Travelling is a means of knowledge. But travelling with the eyes wide open to observe the fate of past nations and learn lessons therefrom may lead to success here and in the hereafter. The Qur’ān repeatedly invites the reader to think over the objects of nature, ancient monuments as well as human physical structure. The Qur’ān (40:21) wonders whether the unbelievers have not travelled and observed the ruins of earlier nations. It means to say that they would have learned the lesson that God is All-Powerful and no power or authority on earth can match His, had they observed these ruins. The Book of God says:
“Have they, then, never travelled through the land and beheld what happened in the end to those who lived before them? Greater were they in power than they are, and in the impact which they left on earth. God, however, took them to task for their sins, and they had none to defend them against God.”
The Chapter 40 of the Qur’ān relates the story of Prophet Moses, detailing how Moses as a child was brought up in the household of Pharaoh and how he was declared God’s Messenger. Reminding Pharaoh, Hāmān and Korah of their life of comfort and authority, Prophet Moses told them that one day their life of power and pelf would come to an end, and warned them against the fate of earlier nations, and more so against what may happen on the Day of Resurrection.
In the verse of Chapter 40 cited above God wonders whether the unbelievers of the Prophet’s time did not travel in the land of earlier nations which had adopted the same attitude the Arabs were showing towards Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his message. Mentioning that the past nations enjoyed superior strength and left their mark in the land, these verses tell the unbelievers that the weakness of the earlier nations was all too clear when they faced God’s power and might. In fact, their rejection of the truth earned the Wrath of God, deprived them from the source of true strength and ultimately led them to annihilation.
The Qur’ān (40:22) justifies this end of theirs: “That was because their messengers came to them with all the evidence of the truth, yet they rejected it. So God took them to task. He is Powerful, Stern in retribution.”
Therefore, we can safely conclude that the safest way to success lies in paying heed to the teachings of God, pondering over them and responding to the call of our conscience.