And there is not a town (population) but We shall destroy it before the Day of Resurrection, or punish it with a severe torment. That is written in the Book (of Our decrees (58)

Here Allah tells us that He has decreed and it is written in 'Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz' (The Preserved Tablet) which is with Him, that there is no town that He will not destroy by wiping out all its people or by punishing them,

عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا

(with a severe torment.) either by killing them or sending calamities upon them as He wills. This will be because of their sins, as Allah says of the past nations:

وَمَا ظَلَمْنَاهُمْ وَلَٰكِن ظَلَمُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ

(We wronged them not, but they wronged themselves.)[11:101]

فَذَاقَتْ وَبَالَ أَمْرِهَا وَكَانَ عَاقِبَةُ أَمْرِهَا خُسْرًا

(So it tasted the evil result of its affair (disbelief), and the consequence of its affair (disbelief) was loss.)[65:9]

وَكَأَيِّن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ عَتَتْ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهَا وَرُسُلِهِ

(And many a town (population) revolted against the command of its Lord and His Messengers;)[65:8] and many Ayat.