"Has there not reached you the news of those who disbelieved before?" meaning: the tidings "and tasted the consequence of their affair," meaning: the punishment. It is that by which He punished the past nations in this world when they denied their messengers. The polytheists are warned that there might descend upon them that which descended upon those who disbelieved before them, "and for them is a painful punishment," meaning: the punishment of Hell after the punishment of this world.
﴿ألم يأتكم نبأ﴾ خبر ﴿الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ قَبْلُ فذاقوا وبال﴾ يَعْنِي: عُقُوبَة ﴿أَمرهم﴾ هُوَ الَّذِي عذَّب بِهِ الْأُمَم السَّالفة فِي الدُّنْيَا حِين كذبُوا رسلهم، يحذر الْمُشْركُونَ أَنْ يَنْزِلَ بِهِمْ مَا نَزَلَ بِمن كفر قبلهم ﴿وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيم﴾ يَعْنِي: عَذَاب جهنّم بعد عَذَاب الدُّنْيَا.
