﴿ أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ كَانُوٓا۟ أَكْثَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَأَشَدَّ قُوَّةًۭ وَءَاثَارًۭا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَمَآ أَغْنَىٰ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ ﴾

“HAVE THEY, then, never journeyed about the earth and beheld what happened in the end to those [deniers of the truth] who lived before their time? More numerous were they, and greater in power than they are, and in the impact which they left on earth: but all that they ever achieved was of no avail to them –”

(Have they not) i.e. the people of Mecca (travelled in the land to see) to reflect on (the nature of the consequence for) on the requital of (those before them) how We destroy them when they disbelieved in their messengers? (They were more numerous than these) than the people of Mecca, (and mightier in power) in physical strength (and (in the) traces (which they left behind them) in the earth) they were keener on the life of this world and travelled more than them in seeking it. (But all that they used to earn) and say and do upon following their religions (availed them not) from Allah's punishment.