{Have they not traveled in the earth and seen how was the end of those who were before them?} meaning: Allah destroyed them. {And for the disbelievers is something similar to it,} meaning: the end of those upon whom the Hour will be established, namely the disbelievers of the end of this nation; they shall be destroyed by the first blast of the trumpet.
Muhammad said: The meaning is: "And for the disbelievers is something similar to it," that is: something similar to that end.
﴿أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الأَرْضِ فَيَنْظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قبلهم﴾ أَي: أهلكهم اللَّه ﴿وَلِلْكَافِرِينَ أَمْثَالُهَا﴾ يَعْنِي: عَاقِبَة الَّذين تقوم عَلَيْهِم السَّاعَة: كفار آخر هَذِه الْأمة؛ يهْلكُونَ بالنفخة الأولى.
قَالَ محمدٌ: الْمَعْنى: وللكافرين أَمْثَالهَا؛ أَي: أَمْثَال تِلْكَ الْعَاقِبَة.
