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Surah 13. Ar-Ra'd
Ayah 32
٣٢. وَلَقَدِ ٱسْتُهْزِئَ بِرُسُلٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَأَمْلَيْتُ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُهُمْ ۖ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عِقَابِ
32. And indeed (many) Messengers were mocked at before you but I granted respite to those who disbelieved, and finally I punished them. Then how (terrible) was My punishment!
Allah says to His Messenger, while comforting him in facing his people's denial of him,
`(And indeed (many) Messengers were mocked at before you), so you have a good example in them,
(but I granted respite to those who disbelieved,) deferred their judgment for a term appointed,
(and finally I punished them.) with encompassing punishment. How did you obtain the news of how I gave them respite and then took them with punishment' Allah said in another Ayah,
(And many a township did I give respite while it was given to wrongdoing. Then (in the end) I seized it (with punishment). And to Me is the (final) return (of all).)﴿22:48﴾ It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that the Prophet said,
(Verily, Allah gives respite to the unjust until when He seizes him, He never lets go of him.) The Messenger next recited this Ayah,
(Such is the punishment of your Lord when He seizes the (population of) towns while they are doing wrong. Verily, His punishment is painful, (and) severe.)﴿11:102﴾