Awalam yasīrū fil-arḍi fayanẓurū kayfa kāna ʿāqibatul-ladhīna min qablihim, kānū ashadda minhum quwwataw wa athārul-arḍa wa ʿamarūhā akthara mimmā ʿamarūhā wa jāʾathum rusuluhum bil-bayyināt, famā kānallāhu liyaẓlimahum wa lākin kānū anfusahum yaẓlimūn.
Have they not traveled through the earth and observed how was the end of those before them? They were greater than them in power, and they plowed [or excavated] the earth and built it up more than they [i.e., the Makkans] have built it up, and their messengers came to them with clear evidences. And Allāh would not ever have wronged them, but they were wronging themselves.
(the Most Merciful.) means, towards His believing servants.
وَعْدَ اللَّهِ ۖ لَا يُخْلِفُ اللَّهُ وَعْدَهُ
((It is) a promise of Allah, and Allah fails not in His promise.) means, ‘this that We have told you, O Muhammad, that the Romans will defeat the Persians, is a true promise from Allah, truth which cannot be changed and which will surely come to pass, because Allah has decreed that the one of the two parties that is closer to the truth will prevail and that victory will be theirs.’
وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
(but most men know not) means, they do not know the decree of Allah concerning His creation, but what He does is wise and is based on justice. His saying: