After narrating the stories of the people of Prophets Nuh, Hud, Salih, Lut and Shu`ayb, destroying the disbelievers, saving the believers, warning these nations by explaining the truth to them with the evidence sent in the words of His Messengers, may Allah's peace and blessings be on them all, Allah said;تِلْكَ الْقُرَى نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَThose were the towns that We relate to you (O Muhammad),مِنْ أَنبَأيِهَاtheir story, (and news),وَلَقَدْ جَاءتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِAnd there came indeed to them their Messengers with clear proofs,and evidences of the truth of what they brought them.Allah said in other Ayah,وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّى نَبْعَثَ رَسُولاًAnd We never punish until We have sent a Messenger (to give warning). (17:15)and,ذَلِكَ مِنْ أَنْبَأءِ الْقُرَى نَقُصُّهُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْهَا قَأيِمٌ وَحَصِيدٌ وَمَا ظَلَمْنَـهُمْ وَلَـكِن ظَلَمُواْ أَنفُسَهُمْThat is some of the news of the towns which We relate unto you; of them, some are standing, and some have been reaped. We wronged them not, but they wronged themselves. (11:100-101)Allah saidفَمَا كَانُواْ لِيُوْمِنُواْ بِمَا كَذَّبُواْ مِن قَبْلُbut they were not such who would believe in what they had rejected before.According to the Tafsir of Ibn Atiyyah,meaning they would not have later on believed in what the Messengers brought them, because they denied the truth when it first came to them (although they recognized it),This explanation is sound, and is supported by Allah's statement,وَمَا يُشْعِرُكُمْ أَنَّهَأ إِذَا جَأءَتْ لَا يُوْمِنُونَوَنُقَلِّبُ أَفْيِدَتَهُمْ وَأَبْصَـرَهُمْ كَمَا لَمْ يُوْمِنُواْ بِهِ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍAnd what will make you perceive that if it came, they will not believe. And We shall turn their hearts and their eyes away (from guidance), as they refused to believe therein for the first time. (6:109-110)This is why Allah said here,كَذَلِكَ يَطْبَعُ اللّهُ عَلَىَ قُلُوبِ الْكَافِرِينَ