﴿ وَكَمْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن نَّبِىٍّۢ فِى ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ ﴾

“And how many a prophet did We send to people of olden times!”

(How many a Prophet did We send) did We send before you, O Muhammad, (among the men of old) among bygone nations; We knew that they would not believe, but We nonetheless did not leave them without messengers and Scriptures!