“Nothing has prevented Us from sending the signs except that the former peoples denied them. And We gave Thamud the she-camel as a clear sign, but they wronged her. And We send signs only as a warning. (59)

“And when We said to you, ‘Indeed, your Lord encompasses all people.’ We made the vision We showed you only as a trial for the people, as well as the accursed tree mentioned in the Quran. We warn them, but it only increases them in great transgression.” (60)

“Nothing has prevented Us from sending the signs” which the disbelievers of Quraysh had requested, “except that the former peoples denied them”; so We destroyed them. If your people do not believe after the signs have been sent, I will destroy them, for it is Our way with the nations that, when they request signs and then do not believe after they have come to them, We destroy them and grant them no respite. And We have decreed the destruction of this community through punishment. Thus, He, exalted is He, said: “Rather, the Hour is their appointed time, and the Hour is more calamitous and more bitter.” (al-Qamar 54:46)

Then He said: “And We gave Thamud the she-camel as a clear sign,” luminous and manifest; “but they wronged her,” that is, they denied that she was from Allah, just as He said: “because they used to deny Our signs.” (al-Araf 7:9) It was also said that they wronged themselves by denying her; that is, We hastened their punishment.

“And We send signs,” that is, lessons and proofs, “only as a warning” for the servants, so that they may believe.

Qatadah said: Indeed, Allah Most High warns people (1) through whatever signs He wills, so that they may return.

His saying, exalted is He: “And when We said to you, ‘Indeed, your Lord encompasses all people,’” means that they are in His grasp and cannot escape His will. He is your Protector and Defender against them, so do not fear them, and proceed with the conveyance of the message He has commanded you to deliver.