walawlā kalimatun sabaqat min rabbika lakāna lizāman wa-ajalun musamman
Translation
And if not for a word866 that preceded from your Lord, it [i.e., punishment] would have been an obligation [due immediately],867 and [if not for] a specified term [decreed].
Notes
[866] See footnote to 10:19.
[867] Allāh would have punished the disbelievers in this world as He did with previous peoples.
Verse 129 of Surah Taha (20:129), a Meccan surah, is in juz 16, on page 321 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 73 reciters.
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Tafsir of verse 129
Al-Mukhtasar
O Messenger, had a word not preceded from your Lord that He will not punish anyone before establishing the proof against him, and had there not been a time which is fixed with Him, the punishment would have come to them quickly, due to their deserving it.
Were it not for a prior decree from your Lord49 [O Prophet] and a time already set, they would have already been punished50.
Notes
[49] That He will not punish until the argument is established on them on the Day of Judgment.
[50] He would have punished the disbelievers in the life of this world as He did with the destroyed nations of the past.
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).
And but for a decree that had already gone forth from thy Lord, and a term already fixed, the judgment would have been inevitable (in this world).
Had it not been for a Word that went forth before from thy Lord, (their punishment) must necessarily have come; but there is a Term appointed (for respite).
And had there not been a word (that had) already gone forth from your Lord and an appointed term, it would surely have been made to cleave (to them).
And had it not been for a Word that had gone before from your Lord and a stated term, indeed (torment) (i.e., torment for disobedience) would have been an imposition.
And mankind was not but one community [united in religion], but [then] they differed. And if not for a word that preceded from your Lord, it would have been judged between them [immediately] concerning that over which they differ.
And We had certainly given Moses the Scripture, but it came under disagreement. And if not for a word that preceded from your Lord, it would have been judged between them. And indeed they are, concerning it [i.e., the Qur’ān], in disquieting doubt.
And We had already given Moses the Scripture, but it came under disagreement. And if not for a word [i.e., decree] that preceded from your Lord, it would have been concluded between them. And indeed they are, concerning it [i.e., the Qur’ān], in disquieting doubt.
And they did not become divided until after knowledge had come to them - out of jealous animosity between themselves. And if not for a word that preceded from your Lord [postponing the penalty] until a specified time, it would have been concluded between them. And indeed, those who were granted inheritance of the Scripture after them are, concerning it, in disquieting doubt.
