ADNAN OKTAR:Surat al-Araf, verse 94. I seek refuge in Allah from the satan."We have never sent a Prophet to any city" we have never sent a Mahdi,  "without seizing its people with hardship and distress so that hopefully they would be humble."

Surat al-Araf, verse 95; I seek refuge in Allah from the satan. "Then We gave them good in exchange for evil until they increased in number and said, 'Our forefathers too underwent both hardship and ease'." So they said forefathers had alsosuffered from sucheconomic crisis in the past, this always happens.Allah says,“Then We seized them suddenly when they were not expecting it."

Surat al-Araf verse 96;“If only the people of the cities had had faith and fear of Allah, We would have opened up to them blessings from heaven and earth." Notice that it is related;“if only people of the cities.." the big cities that is ; "..had faith and fear of Allah," cities in the world. Allah says,"We would have opened up to them blessings from heaven and earth. But they denied the truth so We seized them for what they earned."

Surat al-Araf verse 97;I seek refuge in Allah from satan."Do the people of the cities feel secure against Our violent force coming down on them in the night while they are asleep?" So in essence Allah says, 'How do they know that I won't send my violent force'.

Surat al-Araf verse 99. "Do the people of the cities feel secure against Our violent force coming down on them?" That is, were they secure from Allah's revenge?No one feels secure against Allah's devising except for those who are lost." Meaning Allah says that 'They cannot feel secure', Insha'Allah.

The grounds of devastation is generally to deny the messengers, that is to deny Mahdis, not to take lessons from afflictions befalling, not to heed them, to grow arrogant and cruelty. Devastations come about because of these four reasons.