How was the nominative verb in His, may He be exalted, saying: "Then We shall make others follow them" (26:172) conjoined with the jussive verb in His, may He be exalted, saying: "Did We not destroy the former peoples?" (77:16)?

"Then" (Thumma) in the verse, "Did We not destroy the former peoples? Then We will make the latter follow them" (Qur'an 77:16-17), is used to conjoin a sentence with a sentence, not a verb with a verb. This stylistic approach is common in the Qur'an and the Arabic language. Examples include His Almighty's saying: "And if they fight you, they will turn their backs [in flight], then they will not be aided" (Qur'an 3:111), and His saying: "How can you disbelieve in Allah when you were lifeless and He gave you life; then He will cause you to die, then He will bring you to life again, then to Him you will be returned?" (Qur'an 2:28).