And when the increase of horror and fear was caused by the destruction of them, by pointing to their dwellings, to bring to mind their conditions, and to emphasize their great deeds, he said: ﴿So those﴾ meaning: the ones distanced by anger from their people ﴿are their houses﴾ meaning: Thamud, all of them ﴿empty﴾ meaning: empty, collapsed, and worn out, despite the strength of their foundations and the firmness of their construction. So glorified and exalted is the Doer of what He wills, the Able over the weak as He is over the strong.

And when he mentioned destruction, he followed it with its cause in his saying: ﴿because of what they wronged﴾ meaning: they committed matters in places other than their rightful places, like one walking in the dark, as they worshipped idols, which deserve humiliation and do not deserve anything of glorification in any way, turning away from the One who is not great in their eyes except during oaths, hardships, and concerns, and the destruction of houses - as Abu Hayyan said - and their emptiness from their people until none remains of them to be punished by the oppressor.

Then he increased the terror by saying: ﴿Indeed, in that﴾ meaning: the astonishing matter that was done to Thamud ﴿is a sign﴾ meaning: great, but ﴿for a people who know﴾ meaning: they have knowledge. As for those who do not benefit from it, he calls upon himself that he is among the number of beasts.