﴿ فَأَهْلَكْنَآ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُم بَطْشًۭا وَمَضَىٰ مَثَلُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ ﴾

“and so, [in the end,] We destroyed them [even though they were] of greater might than these: and the [very] image of those people of old became a thing of the past.”

(Then we destroyed men mightier than these) mightier than the people of Mecca (in prowess) in strength and power; (and the example of the men of old hath gone (before them)) i.e. they were destroyed when they disbelieved in their messengers.