Tafsir of Ad-Dhariyat 51:43

{Until a time} Its explanation is His saying: "Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days" (Hud: 65).

{But they were insolent toward the command of their Lord} They grew arrogant toward obeying it. It is also read as al-sa‘qah (the blast), which is the singular instance, derived from the verbal noun sa‘aqathum al-sa‘iqah (the thunderbolt struck them), referring to the descending thunderbolt itself.

{While they were looking on} It occurred during the day, and they witnessed it. It is narrated that the giants were with them in the valley, looking at them, yet it did not harm them.

{So they were unable to stand} This is like His saying: "And they became within their homes fallen prone" (Al-Ankabut: 37). It is also said: It is from the expression "he cannot stand it" (ma yaqumu bihi), meaning he is unable to repel it.

{Nor were they able to defend themselves} They were unable to prevent the punishment.

{And the people of Noah before; indeed, they were a people defiantly disobedient.}