Al-Jawāb as-Sahīh li-man baddala dīn al-Masīh - Ibn Taimiya - (6/391)

And He likewise said:
“How many a generation We destroyed before them—people more fierce than they in power. They ranged through the lands, but was there any escape?” ⦗Qaf 36⦘ (36)

“Surely in that is a reminder for anyone who possesses a heart, or lends a listening ear while he is attentive.” ⦗Qaf 37⦘

And He, Exalted, said:
“Have they not journeyed through the earth and observed how the end of those before them was? They were mightier than them in strength, tilled the soil and built upon it more than they have built. Their messengers came to them with clear proofs, yet Allah did not wrong them; rather, they wronged themselves.” ⦗Al-Rum 9⦘ (9)

“Then the fate of those who did evil was the worst: they rejected Allah’s signs and used to ridicule them.” ⦗Al-Rum 10⦘

And He, Exalted, said:
“Have they not traveled through the land and seen what outcome befell those who came before them? They were stronger than them in might and left deeper traces on the earth, yet Allah seized them for their sins, and they had no protector against Allah.” ⦗Ghafir 21⦘ (21)

“That was because their messengers kept coming to them with clear proofs, but they disbelieved. So Allah seized them—surely He is Strong, severe in punishment.” ⦗Ghafir 22⦘

{وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُمْ مِنْ قَرْنٍ هُمْ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُمْ بَطْشًا فَنَقَّبُوا فِي الْبِلَادِ هَلْ مِنْ مَحِيصٍ} [ق: ٣٦] (٣٦) {إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَذِكْرَى لِمَنْ كَانَ لَهُ قَلْبٌ أَوْ أَلْقَى السَّمْعَ وَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ} [ق: ٣٧] وَقَالَ تَعَالَى: {أَوَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَيَنْظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ كَانُوا أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً وَأَثَارُوا الْأَرْضَ وَعَمَرُوهَا أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا عَمَرُوهَا وَجَاءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ فَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَكِنْ كَانُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ} [الروم: ٩] (٩) {ثُمَّ كَانَ عَاقِبَةَ الَّذِينَ أَسَاءُوا السُّوءَى أَنْ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَكَانُوا بِهَا يَسْتَهْزِئُونَ} [الروم: ١٠] وَقَالَ تَعَالَى: {أَوَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَيَنْظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ كَانُوا هُمْ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً وَآثَارًا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَأَخَذَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَمَا كَانَ لَهُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِنْ وَاقٍ} [غافر: ٢١] (٢١) {ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانَتْ تَأْتِيهِمْ رُسُلُهُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ فَكَفَرُوا فَأَخَذَهُمُ اللَّهُ إِنَّهُ قَوِيٌّ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ} [غافر: ٢٢]