'And if they deny you' means I have taken them, even though they were the strongest of people. I have done so to those before them, so let their matter not sadden you. 'Indeed, they denied' and He, glorified and exalted is He, used the feminine form to belittle the deniers in His power, even though they were the strongest of people. When these nations were great in their size and their long durations, as if they had encompassed all of time, He did not bring the preposition and said: 'Before them the people of Noah' and they were the longest-lived of people and the strongest in power. Since there was no purpose in this context related to the order of their mention, He presented them according to their order in existence and said: 'And 'Aad' meaning those with strong bodies, 'and Thamud' those with tall buildings, in the plains and the mountains.