سُوْرَةُ طٰهٰ
Surah Taa-Haa (20) — Ayah 129
وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةٌ سَبَقَتْ مِن رَّبِّكَ لَكَانَ لِزَامًا وَأَجَلٌ مُّسَمًّى ﴿129﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And had it not been for a Word that went forth before from your Lord, and a term determined, (their punishment) must necessarily have come (in this world).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَوْلَا
walawlā
And if not
كَلِمَةٌۭ
kalimatun
(for) a Word
سَبَقَتْ
sabaqat
(that) preceded
مِن
min
from
رَّبِّكَ
rabbika
your Lord
لَكَانَ
lakāna
surely (would) have been
لِزَامًۭا
lizāman
an obligation
وَأَجَلٌۭ
wa-ajalun
and a term
مُّسَمًّۭى
musamman
determined
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.
129. 1. That is, do these deniers and the polytheists of Makkah not see that many nations have passed before them, whose successors they are, and they pass by their dwellings? We destroyed them because of their denial, and in their dreadful end there are great signs for people of intellect and understanding, but the people of Makkah have closed their eyes to them and are following their ways. If Allah had not already decided that He does not destroy anyone without completing the argument and before the appointed time of respite which He grants to every nation, then immediately the punishment of Allah would have seized them and they would have been destroyed. The meaning is that despite their denial of the Messenger, if punishment has not yet come upon them, they should not think that it will never come; rather, they have been granted respite by Allah, just as He grants to every nation. After the end of the period of respite, there will be no one to save them from the punishment of Allah.
