فَعَتَوْا۟ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِمْ فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ ٱلصَّـٰعِقَةُ وَهُمْ يَنظُرُونَ
But they were insolent toward the command of their Lord, so the thunderbolt seized them while they were looking on.
The Winnowing Winds
فَعَتَوْا۟ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِمْ فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ ٱلصَّـٰعِقَةُ وَهُمْ يَنظُرُونَ
But they were insolent toward the command of their Lord, so the thunderbolt seized them while they were looking on.
Nearby ayahs help place verse 51:44 in sequence and meaning.
مَا تَذَرُ مِن شَىْءٍ أَتَتْ عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا جَعَلَتْهُ كَٱلرَّمِيمِ
It left nothing of what it came upon but that it made it like disintegrated ruins.
وَفِى ثَمُودَ إِذْ قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَمَتَّعُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ حِينٍ
And in Thamud, when it was said to them, "Enjoy yourselves for a time."
فَمَا ٱسْتَطَـٰعُوا۟ مِن قِيَامٍ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ مُنتَصِرِينَ
And they were unable to arise, nor could they defend themselves.
وَقَوْمَ نُوحٍ مِّن قَبْلُ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَوْمًا فَـٰسِقِينَ
And [We destroyed] the people of Noah before; indeed, they were a people defiantly disobedient.