Corruption has appeared on land and sea, such as drought, famine, and the decrease of yield in agriculture and profit in trade. There is the occurrence of death among people and animals, an increase in burning and drowning, and the failure of fishermen. The saying "and the failure of fishermen" in the authentic narrations means the fisherman fails if he returns without catching anything. And the loss of blessings from everything, the decrease of benefits in general, and the increase of harms. Ibn Abbas said: The land has become barren and the source of the sea has been cut off. They said: When the rain stops, the sea creatures become blind. Al-Hasan said that the intended meaning of the sea is the cities and villages along its shore. Ikrimah said: The Arabs call the cities seas. It has been recited in land and seas as "by what the hands of people have earned" due to their sins and transgressions, as Allah, the Exalted, said: "And whatever strikes you of calamity is by what your own hands have earned." Ibn Abbas said: Corruption appeared on land with the killing of the son of Adam by his brother. And on the sea, it was because of a tyrant who would seize every ship by force. Qatadah said: This was before the Prophethood, and when the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, was sent, those who were misguided and unjust returned. It is possible that he means the appearance of evil and sins due to what people have earned. If you ask: What is the meaning of His saying "to make them taste some of what they have done so that perhaps they may return"? I say: As for the first interpretation, it is clear, which is that Allah has corrupted the means of their worldly affairs and destroyed them, to make them taste the consequences of some of their deeds in this world before He punishes them for all of it in the Hereafter, so that perhaps they may return from what they are upon. As for the second interpretation, the "lam" is metaphorical, meaning that the appearance of evils due to them is what they have earned, which warrants Allah making them taste the consequences of their deeds, with the intention of returning. It is as if they have corrupted and caused the spread of sins on earth for that reason. It has also been recited: "to make them taste" with the "nun."