And when Allah, the Most High, knew that they would say in response to this: "This is nothing but the legends of the ancients," He commanded him, blessings and peace be upon him, after expressing amazement at their not looking with their hearts or their eyes at the fates of those who had passed away in His saying: "Did they not see how many We have destroyed" [Al-An'am: 6], to command them to observe the fates of those whose hearts were firmly aware that they were destroyed for the same denial as that of the people of Salih, Lut, Shu'ayb, and others, so that this would suffice them from witnessing what they proposed. So He, the Most High, said: "Say, travel"; meaning: undertake the journey for reflection and do not be deceived by your respite and your establishment in the earth - the verse, and it is like evidence for His saying, the Most High: "The disbelievers would say, 'This is nothing but clear magic'" [Al-An'am: 7].

And when the context was for threatening with a warning from the like of the punishment of past nations, and it had already been established that their appointed times do not advance, He gave them respite in reflection, for it is stronger in threatening, more indicative of power, and more conducive to fairness, especially since the surah is from the early revelations of the Qur'an in descent and early in its arrangement. So He said: "Then observe," and indicated that this is worthy of being asked about with His saying: "What was the end of the deniers?"; meaning: reflect deeply and extend your contemplation when you see the traces of those who were punished for denying the messengers. For when you witness those traces, your reflection will be complete and your insight will be strong, and this is an indication that the matter is in the utmost clarity, so the longer you think about it, the more evident it becomes.