3كَم أَهلَكنا مِن قَبلِهِم مِن قَرنٍ فَنادَوا وَلاتَ حينَ مَناصٍMuhammad AsadHow many a generation1 have We destroyed before their time [for this very sin]! And [how] they called [unto Us] when it was too late to escape!2It is to be noted that the term qarn signifies not merely a "generation" but also - and quite frequently in the Qur'an - people belonging to a particular period and environment", i.e., a "civilization" in the historical connotation of this word.Lit., "while there was no time for escaping".