(47) “We certainly sent messengers before you to their peoples, and they came to them with clear proofs. Then We took vengeance upon those who committed evil, and it was incumbent upon Us to give victory to the believers.”

That is, “We certainly sent messengers before you” among the earlier nations—“messengers to their peoples”—when they denied Allah’s oneness and rejected the truth. Their messengers came to them, calling them to affirm Allah’s oneness, devote their worship sincerely to Him, accept the truth, and recognize the falsehood of the disbelief and misguidance they followed. They brought them clear proofs and evidence of this, but they did not believe and persisted in their error. “Then We took vengeance upon those who committed evil,” and We gave victory to the believers who followed the messengers. “And it was incumbent upon Us to give victory to the believers.” That is, We imposed this upon Ourselves, made it one of the binding rights, and promised it to them; it must therefore come to pass.

Thus, O you who reject Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—if you persist in your rejection, punishment will befall you, and We will give him victory over you.