17 Preface وَكَم أَهلَكنا مِنَ القُرونِ مِن بَعدِ نوحٍ ۗ وَكَفىٰ بِرَبِّكَ بِذُنوبِ عِبادِهِ خَبيرًا بَصيرًاYusuf AliHow many generations have We destroyed after Noah?1 and enough is thy Lord to note and see the sins of His servants.2Noah’s Flood is taken as a new starting point in history. But even after that hundreds of empires, towns, and generations have perished for their wickedness.Let not the wicked think, because they are given a lease of life and luxury for a time, that their wickedness has escaped notice. God notes and sees all things, both open and secret. He knows the hidden motives and thoughts of men, and He has no need of any other evidence. His knowledge and sight are all-sufficient.