"Fa-ahlakna ashadda minhum batshan" (Then We destroyed those who were mightier than them in power), meaning: mightier in strength than the polytheists of the Arabs. "Wa mada mathalul-awwalin" (And the precedent of the former peoples has already passed), meaning: His events [of punishment] regarding the previous nations due to their rejection of their messengers.
﴿فأهلكنا أَشد مِنْهُم بطشا﴾ يَعْنِي: أشدّ من مُشْركي الْعَرَب قُوَّة ﴿وَمضى مثل الْأَوَّلين﴾ يَعْنِي: وقائعه فِي الْأُمَم السَّالفة بتكذيبهم رسلهم
