The Holy Quran 28:59 — Surah Al-Qasas

Arabic text

وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ مُهْلِكَ ٱلْقُرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ يَبْعَثَ فِىٓ أُمِّهَا رَسُولًا يَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا ۚ وَمَا كُنَّا مُهْلِكِى ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ إِلَّا وَأَهْلُهَا ظَـٰلِمُونَ

Translation

Your Rabb would never destroy towns until He sends a Rasool to their capital (main city) who recites His Aayaat to them (thereby giving them a chance to accept Imaan). We would never destroy towns unless their inhabitants were oppressive (sinners by rejecting their Rasool and committing kufr).

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

No punishment comes without a prophet being sent: that is, Almighty Allah does not destroy settlements until He sends a warning prophet to their chief city. (The chief city is singled out perhaps because its influence reaches far, and the inhabitants of cities are comparatively sound-minded and intelligent.)

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