( كأن لم يغنوا ) أي : كأن لم يقيموا ولم يكونوا ( فيها ألا بعدا ) هلاكا ، ( لمدين كما بعدت ) هلكت ( ثمود ) .
It was as if they had never resided there previously. Without doubt, Madyan was distanced from Allah’s mercy when His punishment fell on them, just as Thamūd was driven away from it by Allah’s sending down His anger on them.