Overview (Verses 58 - 59)

The sūrah mentions all these prophets in order to compare them, a group of God- fearing believers, with later generations of pagan Arabs and unbelieving Israelites. The gulf separating the two is vast. There is nothing to bring the newcomers close to their ancestors. These were some of the prophets upon whom God bestowed His blessings — of the seed of Adam, and of those whom We carried in the ark with Noah, and of the seed of Abraham and Israel, and of those whom We had guided and chosen. When the revelations of [God] the Most Merciful were recited to them they fell down prostrating themselves [before Him] and weeping. They were succeeded by generations who neglected their prayers and followed only their lusts; and these will, in time, meet with utter disillusion. (Verses 58-59)
 
In this scene of the role of prophethood in human history, we see only the main features delineated: of the seed of Adam,’ and of those whom We carried in the ark with Noah,’ and also ‘of the seed of Abraham and Israel.’ Adam’s seed includes all, and Noah refers to all who came after him, while Abraham combines the two major branches of prophethood: Jacob as the head of the Israelite tree and Ishmael to whom the Arabs belong and from among whom came the last of all prophets.
 
Those prophets together with those from among their offspring whom God guided and chose of pious people share a main quality in common: “When the revelations of [God] the Most Merciful were recited to them they fell down prostrating themselves [before Him] and weeping.” (Verse 58) They are truly God-fearing, very sensitive to what pleases or displeases God. They shudder when His revelations are recited. This sensation is so strong that they cannot express their inner feelings in words. Their eyes are tearful and they fall down prostrating themselves before God and weep.
 
Yet such highly God-fearing people are succeeded by generations that are distant from God, by people who neglect their prayer and deny it as a duty incumbent on them. Instead, they follow only their lusts and indulge in every loose activity. The difference is so clear and the contrast complete.
 
The sūrah warns those who turned away from the path followed by their God- fearing forefathers, and shows them that they are bound to lose their way and end in ruin. Indeed, their end looms large: “These will, in time, meet with utter disillusion.” (Verse 59) Disillusion will lead them into error, and error will take them to utter destruction.