Comforting the Messenger of Allah Allah says to His Messenger, while comforting him in facing his people's denial of him,وَلَقَدِ اسْتُهْزِىءَ بِرُسُلٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَAnd indeed (many) Messengers were mocked at before you,so you have a good example in them,فَأَمْلَيْتُ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْbut I granted respite to those who disbelieved,deferred their judgment for a term appointed,ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُهُمْand finally I punished them.with encompassing punishment.How did you obtain the news of how I gave them respite and then took them with punishment!'فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عِقَابِThen how (terrible) was My punishment!Allah said in another Ayah,وَكَأَيِّن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ أَمْلَيْتُ لَهَا وَهِىَ ظَـلِمَةٌ ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُهَا وَإِلَىَّ الْمَصِيرُAnd many a township did I give respite while it was given to wrongdoing. Then (in the end) I seized it (with punishment). And to Me is the (final) return (of all). (22:48)It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that the Prophet said,إِنَّ اللهَ لَيُمْلِي لِلظَّالِمِ حَتَّى إِذَا أَخَذَهُ لَمْ يُفْلِتْهVerily, Allah gives respite to the unjust until when He seizes him, He never lets go of him.The Messenger next recited this Ayah,وَكَذلِكَ أَخْذُ رَبِّكَ إِذَا أَخَذَ الْقُرَى وَهِىَ ظَـلِمَةٌ إِنَّ أَخْذَهُ أَلِيمٌ شَدِيدٌ Such is the punishment of your Lord when He seizes the (population of) towns while they are doing wrong. Verily, His punishment is painful, (and) severe. (11:102)