Then We set them up as a lesson for the people of that time and the people after them, and as good Advice for the heedful.
As told in verse 16: 124, the Jews who deviated from the Straightpath transposed the ‘day of the weekly festival’ from Friday to Saturday (Sabbath day). Some of the Jews who were settled on the shore of ‘Ayla’ lived by fishing. The Lord sent fishes in abundance on one Sabbath day to test them. Seeing this they placed nets, ropes, and blockades for the fishes not to return to the sea. On Sunday, the next day, they caught the fish. Thus, they acted against the teaching of the Lord that He looks into the state of chests while doing any deed. Due to their repeated transgression, their bodies were transformed into apes. This event is explained in verses 7: 163-166.
The lesson of this incident is that whoever does this type of deed by forgetting Lord Who is the Acquainted Observer of everything, the punishment for them will be severe. It is told in verse 10: 57: “Oh mankind, there has come to you an Advice from your Lord and a Healing for what is in the chest; and as a Guidance and Mercy for the believers”. It is told in verse 11: 120: “It has come to you in this Book the Truth, good Advice, and Reminder for the believers”.
‘Mouidath’ is the similar observances and figures of the wise verses having clear ideas and full of wisdom. Even though the Arabic Quran reading Fujjar are reading these verses and are doing such deceiving deeds, they are not punished. That is because of the last Messenger’s prayer and that they are the people of the Last period. But they will be resurrected in Hell as apes, bandicoots, pigs, dogs, donkeys, etc. By forgetting Adhikr they have become the worst creature among the thousand communities of Lord’s creatures as told in verse 8: 22. The hypocritical leaders by hiding Adhikr have made permissible the house of worthless Hell to their followers as told in verses 14: 28-29. See explanation 2: 9-12; 3: 138 and 5: 60.