وَإِذۡ

قَالَتۡ

أُمَّةٞ

مِّنۡهُمۡ

لِمَ

تَعِظُونَ

قَوۡمًا

ٱللَّهُ

مُهۡلِكُهُمۡ

أَوۡ

مُعَذِّبُهُمۡ

عَذَابٗا

شَدِيدٗاۖ

قَالُواْ

مَعۡذِرَةً

إِلَىٰ

رَبِّكُمۡ

وَلَعَلَّهُمۡ

يَتَّقُونَ

١٦٤

how, when some of them asked [their preachers], ‘Why do you bother preaching to people God will destroy, or at least punish severely?’ [the preachers] answered, ‘In order to be free from your Lord’s blame, and so that they may perhaps take heed.’