8 Preface فَأَهلَكنا أَشَدَّ مِنهُم بَطشًا وَمَضىٰ مَثَلُ الأَوَّلينَAli Quli QaraiSo We destroyed those who were stronger than these,1 and the example of the ancients has passed. That is, the Arab polytheists.