(And verily We make them taste) We will inflict on them, i.e. on the people of Mecca (the lower punishment) the punishment of the life of this world: dryness of the land, drought, hunger, assassination, etc; it is also said that this refers to the torment of the grave (before the greater) before the torment of the Fire; this is a warning to them, (that haply they may return) from their disbelief and accept faith.