وَلَقَد أَرسَلنا إِلىٰ أُمَمٍ مِن قَبلِكَ فَأَخَذناهُم بِالبَأساءِ وَالضَّرّاءِ لَعَلَّهُم يَتَضَرَّعونَ

And We have already sent [messengers] to nations before you, [O Muhammad]; then We seized them with poverty and hardship that perhaps they might humble themselves [to Us].