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Tafsir Ibn Kathir — 15:4–15:5

English commentary · Al-Hijr

Verses covered:15:415:5

And never did We destroy a township but there was a known decree for it (4)No nation can advance its term, nor delay it (5)

Every Township has its allotted Time

Allah is informing us that He never destroys a township until He has established evidences for it and its allotted time has ended. When the time for a nation's destruction has come, He never delays it, and He never moves its appointed time forward. This was a message and a warning to the people of Makkah, telling them to give up their Shirk, their stubbornness and disbelief for which they deserved to be destroyed.

Source: Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English) — QUL / Tarteel. Commentary is presented separately from the Quran translation.