In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allaah [The Exalted] said:

 وَإِن يُكَذِّبُوكَ فَقَدۡ كَذَّبَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ جَآءَتۡہُمۡ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَبِٱلزُّبُرِ وَبِٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ ٱلۡمُنِيرِ

  ثُمَّ أَخَذۡتُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْۖ فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ

And if they belie you, those before them also belied. Their Messengers came to them with clear signs, and with the Scriptures, and the book giving light. Then I took hold of those who disbelieved, and how terrible was My disapproval! [Al-Faatir. 25-26]

Meaning, O Messenger! If these polytheists belie you, you are not the first Messenger to be belied, because [فَقَدۡ كَذَّبَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ جَآءَتۡہُمۡ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتِ- Those before them also belied. Their Messengers came to them with clear signs] -Meaning, the clear proofs that guide to the truth and the truthfulness of that which the Messenger stated; [وَبِٱلزُّبُرِ-The scripture- Meaning, a written book that gathered many rulings], [وَبِٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ ٱلۡمُنِيرِ- And a book giving light]- Meaning, giving light in relation to its truthful news and just rulings. So, their rejection of the Messengers was neither due to ambiguity nor deficiency related that which the Messengers brought, rather this rejection was due to wrong doing and obstinacy. [ثُمَّ أَخَذۡتُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْۖ – Then I took hold of those who disbelieved]- Meaning, with various types of punishment, [فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ- And how terrible was My disapproval?!] Meaning, it was the severest disapproval and greatest punishment [in this life], so be warned against belying this noble Messenger (i.e. Muhammad) and thus you are afflicted with the painful punishment and painful disgrace that befell those nations of the past. [Ref 1]

Goal Behind Stories of Previous Nations

Allaah [The Most High] said:

قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ سُنَنٌ فَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَانْظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ

Many similar mishaps [troubles, problems] of life were faced by nations that have passed away before you, so travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those who disbelieved. [3:137]

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah] said: Indeed, there were nations like yourselves before you, so look to their evil end.  You have to know that the reason behind their evil end was due to their disbelief in the revelations of Allaah and disbelief in Allaah’s Messengers.  They were the forefathers and you are the descendants. The main affair that connects you to each other is your disbelief and the ruling on that disbelief is destruction. [Ref 2]

Imaam Muhammad Bin Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [rahimahullaah] said: If it is said, “What is the benefit in narrating to us the stories of the destroyed nations despite the fact that this Ummah will not be completely destroyed in a manner similar to the destruction of the previous nations before it?”

The Answer: Indeed, this has two benefits: The first benefit is a clarification of Allaah’s blessings upon us that the occurrence of a complete destruction is removed from us, and that were it not for Allaah’s Benevolence we would have been deserving of it.

Secondly: The likeness of the punishment they received may occur in the hereafter for the one who did what they did, if punishment was not received in the worldly life. And this may be understood from the statement of Allaah: “Such is the Seizure of your Lord when He seizes the population of towns while they are doing wrong. Verily, His Seizure is painful and severe. Indeed in that (there) is a sure lesson for those who fear the torment of the Hereafter.” So what is apparent from this Aayah is that what is similar to the punishment they received will happen in the Hereafter, and Allaah knows best. [Ref 3]

[Ref 1: An Excerpt from Tafseer As-Sadi. Slightly paraphrased]

[Ref 2: I’laam Al-Muwaqqi-een: 1/181]

[Ref 3: Al-Muntaqaa Min Fawaa-idil Fawaa-id 123-124]