Is it proper to say that Americans deserved the Fires?

Answer

Most certainly the Americans deserved the punishment of the Fires which are the Athaab of Allah Ta'ala. How can anyone not believe that they deserved it when Allah Ta'ala decreed that they deserve the punishment?

Allah Ta'ala says in the Qur'aan in many verses: "We have not committed zulm (injustice) on them. But, in reality, they were unjust to themselves."

Thus, every person who was apprehended by the Fires was not innocent. Allah Ta'ala had decreed him/her to be apprehended by His Punishment.

Grief and sorrow are natural in people. Naturally feeling sorry is not sinful. When Allah Ta'ala destroyed the nations of Nooh, Aad, Thamud, etc, their respective Nabis afterwards grieved when they observed the scenes of devastation. Then they exclaimed: "How can I grieve over a nation of disbelievers?" Such statements were expressions of grief.