“Likewise, We never sent a warner to any town before you without its affluent people saying, ‘We found our forefathers following a religion, and we are following in their footsteps.’ He said, ‘Even if I have brought you better guidance than what you found your forefathers following?’ They replied, ‘We reject the message with which you have been sent.’ So We exacted retribution upon them. See, then, what was the fate of those who denied the truth.”

“Likewise, We never sent a warner to any town before you without its affluent people saying”—that is, those who lived in luxury and its leading figures, whom worldly life had driven to transgression, whose wealth had deluded them, and who arrogantly rejected the truth. “We found our forefathers following a religion, and we are following in their footsteps.” That is, these people are not without precedent, nor are they the first to make such a claim.

The argument advanced by these misguided polytheists—their blind imitation of their misguided forefathers—was not intended to pursue truth and guidance. It was nothing but sheer partisanship, intended to defend the falsehood they upheld.

Hence every messenger says to those who oppose him with this false argument: “Even if I have brought you better guidance than what you found your forefathers following?” That is, would you then follow me for the sake of guidance? “They replied, ‘We reject the message with which you have been sent.’” This made it clear that they had no desire to follow truth and guidance; rather, their aim was to follow falsehood and their own desires.

“So We exacted retribution upon them” because they denied the truth and rejected it on the basis of this false argument. “See, then, what was the fate of those who denied the truth.” Let these people therefore beware of persisting in their denial, lest the same fate that befell them befall them as well.