فَكَأَيِّن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ أَهْلَكْنَاهَاAnd many a township did We destroy,وَهِيَ ظَالِمَةٌwhile they were given wrongdoing,meaning, they were rejecting their Messengers.فَهِيَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَى عُرُوشِهَاso that it lie in ruins,Ad-Dahhak said,"(Leveled to) their roofs," i.e., their houses and cities were destroyed.وَبِيْرٍ مُّعَطَّلَةٍand (many) a deserted well,means, they draw no water from it, and no one comes to it, after it had been frequented often by crowds of people.وَقَصْرٍ مَّشِيدٍand a castle Mashid! Ikrimah said, "This means whitened with plaster." Something similar was narrated from Ali bin Abi Talib, Mujahid, Ata', Sa`id bin Jubayr, Abu Al-Mulayh and Ad-Dahhak. Others said that it means high and impenetrable fortresses. All of these suggestions are close in meaning and do not contradict one another, for this sturdy construction and great height did not help their occupants or afford them any protection when the punishment of Allah came upon them, as He says:أَيْنَمَا تَكُونُواْ يُدْرِككُّمُ الْمَوْتُ وَلَوْ كُنتُمْ فِى بُرُوجٍ مُّشَيَّدَةٍ"Wheresoever you may be, death will overtake you even if you are in Buruj Mushayyadah!" (4:78)