Inevitability of consequence

قَالَ عَمَّا قَلِيلٍ لَّيُصْبِحُنَّ نَـٰدِمِينَ

[Allāh] said, "After a little, they will surely become regretful."

فَيَأْتِيَهُم بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ

And it will come to them suddenly while they perceive [it] not.

أَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْقُرُونِ أَنَّهُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ لَا يَرْجِعُونَ

Have they not considered how many generations We destroyed before them - that they to them will not return?

كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّن قَرْنٍ فَنَادَوا۟ وَّلَاتَ حِينَ مَنَاصٍ

How many a generation have We destroyed before them, and they [then] called out; but it was not a time for escape.

فَٱرْتَقِبْ إِنَّهُم مُّرْتَقِبُونَ

So watch, [O Muḥammad]; indeed, they are watching [for your end].