"Not a township which We destroyed before them believed; so will they believe?" meaning: that the people, when they denied their messengers and asked of Him a sign, and it came to them but they did not believe, God destroyed them. So will they believe if a sign comes to them? Meaning: they will not believe if it comes to them.
﴿مَا آمَنَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ مِنْ قَرْيَةٍ أهلكناها أفهم يُؤمنُونَ﴾ أَيْ: أَنَّ الْقَوْمَ إِذَا كَذَّبُوا رُسُلَهُمْ، وَسَأَلُوهُ الْآيَةَ فَجَاءَتْهُمْ وَلَمْ يُؤْمِنُوا أَهْلَكَهُمُ اللَّهُ؛ أَفَهُمْ يُؤْمِنُونَ إِنْ جَاءَتْهُمْ آيَةٌ؛ أَيْ: لَا يُؤمنُونَ إِن جَاءَتْهُم.
