وَما مَنَعَ النّاسَ أَن يُؤمِنوا إِذ جاءَهُمُ الهُدىٰ وَيَستَغفِروا رَبَّهُم إِلّا أَن تَأتِيَهُم سُنَّةُ الأَوَّلينَ أَو يَأتِيَهُمُ العَذابُ قُبُلًا

What prevents people from believing and seeking their Lord’s forgiveness when the guidance comes to them? Unless the precedent of the ancients comes to them, or the torment comes to them face to face?