Signs for the men of understanding:

Everybody who is blessed with eyesight can see but everyone sees and perceives things differently, depending mostly upon the mentality of the a person. For example, a bum on a street would see a full moon as a whole round bread and a miser would imagine it as a coin of gold. Everybody who can see has sight but everybody who has sight doesnt have insight. What is Insight? Insight is: 1. The power or act of seeing into a situation. 2. The act or result of apprehending the inner nature of things or of seeing intuitively. Look around you and you will see the Signs for the men of understanding:

" Is it not guidance for them (to know) how many generations We have destroyed before them, in whose dwellings (haunts) they now walk? Verily in these are Signs indeed for men of understanding. ." Ta-Ha[20:128]

Carved 2 millennia ago, Petra still echoes with the mysteries of the past

Though rattled by earthquakes through the centuries, many of Petra's buildings stood fast, even as the city declined and storms of windblown sand concealed its glory for another age --National Geographic Magazine

Quran predicts:

"(Remember also) the Ad and the Thamud (people): clearly will appear to you from (the traces of) their buildings (their fate): the Evil One made their deeds alluring to them, and kept them back from the Path, though they were gifted with intelligence and skill."   Al- Ankabuut [29:38]

--National Geographic Confirms:

"From shreds of their pottery we know they were artists; ancient manuscripts describe them as shrewd traders and merchants. Both these qualities are reflected in their public architecture. Petra displays the Nabateians' skill at capturing and controlling rainwater-essential in a dessert that gets only about 6' a year." "Hydrology is the unseen beauty of Petra", says an Engineer familiar with Nabateians techniques, " those guys were absolute geniuses." --National Geographic Magazine-Dec98

"And with the Thamud (people) who cut out huge rocks in the valley? And with Fir'aun (Pharaohs of Egypt) lord of stakes? (All) these transgressed beyond bounds in the lands." Al Fajr [89:09-11]

*******Here are some different verses from Quran about different people who lived in different places in different times and  were once so proud of their power, skills and wealth. And who openly refused to accept Allah as their God. Quran tells us their palaces would last for a long time so the future generations can  take lessons from their mistakes. Each picture doesn't necessarily match the verse that's typed below it. ************

" Say to them (Muhammad pbuh):" Go ye through the earth and see what has been the end of those guilty (of sins.)" But grieve not over them or distress thyself because of their plots. An-Naml[27:69-70]

"Thus do We relate to you some stories of what happened before: for We have sent you a Message from your own Presence." Ta-Ha[20:99]

"Hath not the story reached them of those before them?- the People of Noah, and Ad and Thamud; the People of Abraham, the men of Madyan, and the cities overthrown. To them came their Apostles with clear signs. It is not God who wronged them, but they wronged their own souls." At Taubah [09:70]

"But the Thamud,-they were destroyed by a terrible Storm   of thunder and ligthening!"  AlHaqqa [69:05]

"Is it not guidance for them (to know) how many generations We have destroyed before them, in whose dwellings (haunts) they now walk? Verily in these are Signs indeed for men of understanding."  Ta-Ha[20:128]

" Now the (people of) 'Ad behaved arrogantly through the land against all truth and reason and said: " Who is superior to us in strength?" What! Did they not see that Allah Who created them, was Superior to them in Strentht? But they continued to reject Our Signs!" Fussilat [41:15] " So We sent against them a furious Wind through days of disaster, that We might give them a taste of a Penalty of humiliation in this life; But the Penalty of the Hereafter will be more humiliating still;and they will find no help. Fussilat [41:16]

This used to be the biggest temple in the main land of Greece, now just a tourist attraction!

In Quran Allah tells us: " But they rejected him: Then Mighty blast seized them, and they lay prostrate in their homes by the morning."   Al-Ankabut [29:37]

" Is it not guidance for them (to know) how many generations We have destroyed before them, in whose dwellings (haunts) they now walk? Verily in these are Signs indeed for men of understanding. ." Ta-Ha[20:128]

In Quran Allah tells us: " So when Our Commandment came, We turned the town of Sodom upside down and rained on them stones of baked clay, piled up."  [11:82]

In Quran Allah tells us: " Before them (were many who) rejected  apostles,-the people of Noah, and Ad and Pharaoh, the Lord of Stakes," Saad [38:12]

Thousands of years ago these places were teaming with life. 1000s of arrogant people roamed around here their necks stiff with pride, but now they are all back in the earth filling the holes they came out from, leaving behind the palaces they were so proud of. Today they are nothing but haunted ruins where stranded animals find shelter in winter..

In Quran Allah tells us: " Those before them did also plot (against God's way) : but God took their structures from their foundations and, the roof fell down on them from above; and the Wrath seized them from directions they did not perceive."   An-Nahl [16:26]

Famous Coliseum where Romans for centuries cold-bloodedly killed literally 1000s of people whom they saw as threat or criminals as well as professional fighter and animals. 50,000 spectators can be seated here to enjoy the murderous encounters of human beings!!!

" Is it not guidance for them (to know) how many generations We have destroyed before them, in whose dwellings (haunts) they now walk? Verily in these are Signs indeed for men of understanding. ."   Ta-Ha[20:128]

In Quran Allah tells us: "And in 'Ad (people) (was another Sign): Behold, We sent then devastating Wind:"  Az Zaariyaat [51:41] "So We sent against them a furious Wind through days of disaster, that We might give them a taste of a Penality of humiliation in this life; but the Penality of Hereafter will be more humiliating still: and they will find no help."  Ha Mim [41:16]

In Quran Allah Predicts: "  And We brought the children of Israel across the seas: and  Pharaoh and his hosts pursued them wrongfully and aggressively, till when the calamity of drowning took over him and he cried, 'I believe that  there is no god but He in whom the children of Israel believe, and I am of those who submit to Him.' What ! Now!  While thou wast disobedient before this and wast of mischief makers. So this day We will save thee in thy body alone that thou mayest be a Sign to those who come after thee. Surely many of the mankind are heedless of Our Signs "   QUR'AN [10:90-92]

In Quran Allah says to Prophet Muhammed (s.a.w): " Such are some of the stories of the Unseen which We  have revealed onto you: before this neither you nor your people knew them. So persevere patiently: for the end is for those who are righteous. "   Hud [11:49]

Food for thought: Allah Tallah has preserved these ruins so we can learn from their examples. Many of us have visited these sites but did we learn anything? Most of us keep making the same mistakes without ever thinking that our future wont be much different sooner or later some natural disaster or war would strike us and we may end up loosing everything or face a horrible death, may be in our sleep,.............but are we ready to face our Creator???