"And how many"—meaning: how many—"a city that rebelled against the command of its Lord and His messengers"—meaning: its people disobeyed the command of their Lord and His messengers—"so We took it to severe account," in the Tafsir of al-Suddi: meaning, We requited it with a severe requital, "and We punished it with a terrible punishment," meaning: a great one.
﴿وكأين﴾ أَي: وَكم ﴿مِنْ قَرْيَةٍ عَتَتْ عَن أَمر رَبهَا وَرُسُله﴾ عَصَتْ أَمر رَبهَا وَرُسُله؛ يَعْنِي: أَهلهَا ﴿فحاسبناها حسابا شَدِيدا﴾ تَفْسِير السُّدي: يَعْنِي: فجازيناها جَزَاء شَدِيدا ﴿وعذبناها عذَابا نكرا﴾ عَظِيما
