وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّن قَرْنٍ هُمْ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُم بَطْشًا فَنَقَّبُوا فِى ٱلْبِلَـٰدِ هَلْ مِن مَّحِيصٍ

Wakam ahlakna qablahum min qarnin humashaddu minhum batshan fanaqqaboo fee albiladi halmin mahees

And how many a generation before them did We destroy who were greater than them in [striking] power and had explored throughout the lands. Is there any place of escape?