An-Nahl 16:34

<h2>The Disbelievers' Refrain from Faith means that They were simply awaiting Punishment</h2><p>Threatening the idolators for their persistence in falsehood and their conceited delusions about this world, Allah says: Are these people waiting only for the angels to come and take their souls Qatadah said: </p><div class="arabic uthmani">أَوْ يَأْتِىَ أَمْرُ رَبِّكَ</div><p>(Or there comes the command of your Lord) means the Day of Resurrection and the terror that they will go through." </p><div class="arabic uthmani">كَذَلِكَ فَعَلَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ</div><p>(Thus did those before them.) means, thus did their predecessors and those who were like them among the idolators persist in their Shirk, until they tasted the wrath of Allah and experienced the punishment and torment that they suffered. </p><div class="arabic uthmani">وَمَا ظَلَمَهُمُ اللَّهُ</div><p>(And Allah did not wrong them.) because by sending His Messengers and revealing His Books He gave them enough warning and clearly demonstrated His proofs to them. </p><div class="arabic uthmani">وَلَـكِن كَانُواْ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ</div><p>(but they were wronging themselves.) meaning, by opposing the Messengers and denying what they brought. For this reason Allah's punishment tormented them. </p><div class="arabic uthmani">وَحَاقَ بِهِم</div><p>(they were surrounded) meaning, they were overwhelmed by the painful torment. </p><div class="arabic uthmani">مَا كَانُواْ بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ</div><p>(by that which they used to mock.) meaning, …

So that the evils of what they did smote them, and that which they used to mock surrounded them.

But the evil results of their deeds overtook them, and that very (Wrath) at which they had scoffed hemmed them in.

Then, the evil results of their deeds overtook them, and that at which they used to mock surrounded them.

So the evils of their deeds assailed them, and what they used to ridicule engulfed them.