And when the intended purpose of that was to strike the hearts of the Arabs with the arrows of threat, so that they would cease from what they had firmly established in the blindness of imitation, Allah, the Most High, said, informing that He who caused those to fall due to their injustice is [also] in ambush for every unjust person, whether he wrongs himself or others: ﴿And likewise﴾ meaning: and similar to that great seizing ﴿is the seizing of your Lord﴾. He mentioned it with the description of kindness, what He has towards them of goodness, so that they would not fear for their people from such a seizing ﴿when He seizes the towns﴾, meaning: their people, even if they are not the ones about whom the news was previously mentioned, and even if they are great and numerous. However, the news about it is more terrifying because it implies that perhaps destruction may encompass them due to the severity of His anger against their actions, like the towns of the people of Lot, peace be upon him, ﴿and they were unjust﴾. Al-Bukhari narrated in the tafsir from Abu Musa, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: The Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, said: "Indeed, Allah gives respite to the unjust until when He seizes him, he does not escape." Then he recited: ﴿And likewise is the seizing of your Lord﴾ the verse.