﴿ وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ رُسُلًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِمْ فَجَآءُوهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ فَٱنتَقَمْنَا مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَجْرَمُوا۟ ۖ وَكَانَ حَقًّا عَلَيْنَا نَصْرُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴾

“And indeed, [O Muhammad, even] before thee did We send forth apostles - each one unto his own people and they brought them all evidence of the truth: and then, [by causing the believers to triumph,] We inflicted Our retribution upon those who [de­liberately] did evil: for We had willed it upon Our­selves to succour the believers.”

(Verily We sent before thee) O Muhammad (messengers to their own folk. They brought them clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty)) they explained to them the commands, prohibitions and signs but they did not believe. (Then We took vengeance) by sending a chastisement (upon those who were guilty) the idolaters. (To help believers is incumbent upon Us) it is incumbent to help the believers with the messengers by saving them and destroying their enemies.