Sa'id bin Jubayr (may Allah have mercy on him) said in explaining this saying of Allah Almighty: "And had it not been for the favour of Allah upon you and His mercy in this world and the Hereafter" [Surah An-Nur: 14] — there is a transposition (of word order) in it; the meaning is: "Had it not been for the favour of Allah upon you and His mercy in this world and the Hereafter, there would have touched you" [Surah An-Nur: 14], meaning punishment would have befallen you, "for what you indulged in" [Surah An-Nur: 14], meaning in the slander you fabricated, "a great punishment" [Surah An-Nur: 14], meaning the penalty of this world and the Hereafter would have reached you.
Hadith Referenceالمعجم الكبير للطبراني / مسند النساء / 19498