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The disbelievers would mockingly ask the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم to cause punishment to descend upon them quickly, and so they were addressed in this verse. It was made clear that such a demand is wrong as punishment is only sent by the decree of Allah Almighty. However, if the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم prayed for it, it would be a different situation, like the storm which came upon the people after the supplication of the Prophet Nūḥعَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم.