And We made it a deterrent punishment for those who were present (2:66)

﴿فَجَعَلْنَاهَا نَكَالًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهَا وَمَا خَلْفَهَا وَمَوْعِظَةً لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ﴾
[ البقرة: 66]

2:66 And We made it a deterrent punishment for those who were present and those who succeeded [them] and a lesson for those who fear Allah.

Allah made this village, which had transgressed the limits, an example to the surrounding villages, and an example to those who came after it, so that they would not do the same and deserve the same fate.
He made it a reminder for those mindful of Allah, who are careful of facing the consequences of their actions in the life to come, and are mindful of Allah’s repayment for those who transgress the limits.

So We made this punishment an example to their own and to succeeding generations and a lesson to those who are Al-Muttaqun (the pious - see V. 2:2).

phonetic Transliteration

FajaAAalnaha nakalan lima bayna yadayha wama khalfaha wamawAAithatan lilmuttaqeena

Abdullah Yusuf Ali - Translation

So We made it an example to their own time and to their posterity, and a lesson to those who fear Allah.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

So We made this punishment an example for those in front of it and those behind it, and a lesson for Al-Muttaqin (the pious).

Page 10 English transliteration