﴿ كَأَن لَّمْ يَغْنَوْا۟ فِيهَآ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ ثَمُودَا۟ كَفَرُوا۟ رَبَّهُمْ ۗ أَلَا بُعْدًۭا لِّثَمُودَ ﴾

“as though they had never lived there. Oh, verily, [the tribe of] Thamud denied their Sustainer! Oh, away with the Thamud!”

as if ka-an had been softened and its subject omitted in other words understand it as ka’annahum they had not dwelt there in their dwelling-place ‘Lo! Thamūd disbelieved in their Lord lo! away with Thamūd!’ this may be read declined li-Thamūdan or left as indeclinable li-Thamūda referring to the district or the tribe.