Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And your Lord would never destroy the towns wrongfully, while their people were right-doers.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَمَاwamāAnd not
كَانَkānawould
رَبُّكَrabbukayour Lord
لِيُهْلِكَliyuh'likadestroy
ٱلْقُرَىٰl-qurāthe cities
بِظُلْمٍۢbiẓul'minunjustly
وَأَهْلُهَاwa-ahluhāwhile its people
مُصْلِحُونَmuṣ'liḥūna(were) reformers
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 117){وَمَاكَانَرَبُّكَلِيُهْلِكَ …:} That is, if those people were reformers instead of being criminals, and then they were destroyed with punishment, this would have been clear injustice, and Allah never commits such injustice that the people of a town do not commit corruption but rather reform, and enjoin good and forbid evil, and yet Allah sends punishment upon them, because this would be injustice, and Allah is never unjust in any way. Some scholars have taken "injustice" to mean shirk, and have interpreted it as: Allah does not destroy any town in this world merely because of shirk, as long as its inhabitants do not commit corruption in the land, but rather maintain reform in their mutual relations. He only destroys them when they exceed limits and spread corruption in the land. However, the first meaning is more correct.
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
The exegesis of this verse has been done along with the previous verse.
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
And your Lord would not destroy the towns unjustly [130] while their people were reformers.
[130] Allah's Punishment Does Not Descend in the Presence of Righteous People:
That is, punishment never descends in such a situation where there are righteous people present among that nation and they are engaged in efforts of reform. Even if they are few, because of such people, even the criminals remain safe from Allah's punishment. Punishment only comes when evil has spread completely, because Allah does not have a desire to punish people without reason.