Surah Al-Mursalat, Verse 22

Tafsir of 77:22

The Call to contemplate the various Manifestations of Allah's Power Allah says, أَلَمْ نُهْلِكِ الاٌّوَّلِينَ (Did We not destroy the ancients?) meaning, those who rejected the Messengers and opposed what they came to them with. ثُمَّ نُتْبِعُهُمُ ٱلَْٔاخِرِينَ (So shall We make later generations to follow them), meaning, from those who are similar to them. Thus, Allah says, كَذَلِكَ نَفْعَلُ بِالْمُجْرِمِينَ وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ (Thus do We deal with the criminals. Woe that Day to the deniers!) Ibn Jarir said this. Then Allah reminds His creatures of His favor, and using the beginning of creation to support the idea of repeating it, He says: أَلَمْ نَخْلُقكُّم مِّن مَّآءٍ مَّهِينٍ (Did We not create you from a despised water?) meaning, weak and despised in comparison to the power of the Creator.…

Source: Ibn Kathir (Abridged)