And when Allah, glorified and exalted is He, does not punish until He sends a messenger; He confirmed this with His saying: "And indeed a messenger came to them"; meaning: the people of this town; "a messenger from them"; as it happened to you; "but they denied him"; as you did; "so the punishment seized them"; as you have heard. And if what is meant by it is Mecca; then what is meant by it is the hunger; which the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, invoked against them when he said: "O Allah, assist me with seven like the seven of Yusuf." As for the fear, it was not from the struggle of the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, against them; "and they are wrongdoers"; meaning: deeply rooted in placing things in their wrong places; because they persisted in their disbelief; along with the hunger; and they asked the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, for help; so he prayed for them.