"And how many a city have We destroyed," meaning: the nations of the past that were destroyed when they denied their messengers. "So Our punishment came to them in the night," meaning: at night, "or while they were sleeping at midday," meaning: during the nap in the daytime.
﴿وَكم من قَرْيَة أهلكناها﴾ يَعْنِي: مَا أَهْلَكَ مِنَ الْأُمَمِ السَّالِفَةِ حِينَ كَذَّبُوا رُسُلَهُمْ ﴿فَجَاءَهَا بأسنا﴾ عذابنا ﴿بياتا﴾ يَعْنِي: لَيْلًا ﴿أوهم قَائِلُونَ﴾ يَعْنِي: عِنْد القائلة بِالنَّهَارِ
