اسْتِكْبَارًا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَكْرَ السَّيِّئِ وَلَا يَحِيقُ الْمَكْرُ السَّيِّئُ إِلَّا بِأَهْلِهِ فَهَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا سُنَّتَ الْأَوَّلِينَ فَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ اللَّهِ تَبْدِيلًا وَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ اللَّهِ تَحْوِيلًا
due to their domineering [conduct] in the land and their devising of evil schemes; and evil schemes beset only their authors. So do they await anything except the precedent of the ancients? Yet you will never find any change in Allah’s precedent, and you will never find any revision in Allah’s precedent.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 35:43
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 35:43] The ancient people who rebelled against the truth and lived beyond the control of faith in Allah, were given respite. First they were shown mercy and given the opportunity to amend their beliefs and ways, then Allah sent His prophets to admonish them and exhort them to good in thought and deed. Finally, after rejecting all the opportunities of Allah's grace and mercy to come on the right path, they were justly requited with the punishment that they themselves had earned. The people are asked indirectly whether they would like to follow in the footsteps of the ancient people, or, would they repent for their past actions, asking Allah's forgiveness, and doing good in the future.