﴿ وَكَأَيِّن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ أَمْلَيْتُ لَهَا وَهِىَ ظَالِمَةٌۭ ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُهَا وَإِلَىَّ ٱلْمَصِيرُ ﴾

“And to how many a community that was im­mersed in evildoing have I given rein for a while! But then I took it to task: for with Me is all journeys’ end!”

(And how many a township) and how many a population of township (did I suffer long) I gave a reprieve from chastisement (though it was sinful!) though its population were idolaters and disbelievers. (Then I grasped it) I punished them in the life of this world. (Unto Me is the return) in the Hereafter.