And when We intend to destroy a city, We command its affluent but they defiantly disobey therein; so the word comes into effect upon it, and We destroy it with [complete] destruction.
Tafseer
{ وإذا أردنا أن نهلك قرية أمرنا مترفيها } منعميها بمعنى رؤسائها بالطاعة على لسان رسلنا { ففسقوا فيها } فخرجوا عن أمرنا { فحق عليها القول } بالعذاب { فدمرناها تدميرا } أهلكناها بإهلاك أهلها وتخريبها .
{And when We intend to destroy a town, We command its affluent ones} its privileged ones, meaning its leaders, to obey through Our messengers, {but they transgress therein} so they disobey Our command, {so the word is justified against it} with punishment, {and We destroy it with utter destruction} We destroy it by destroying its people and ruining it.
