Surah Taa-Haa
Chapter 20 · Verse 129 · Revealed in Makkah
“And if not for a word that preceded from your Lord, punishment would have been an obligation [due immediately], and [if not for] a specified term [decreed].”
Translation: Saheeh International
Listen to recitation
Mishary Rashid Alafasy
Reflection — Ibn Kathir
Many Nations were destroyed and in Them is a Lesson
Allah, the Exalted, says,
أَفَلَمْ يَهْدِ
Reflection — Maarif ul Quran
Commentary
The word ھُدٰی - (guidance) implied in the first sentence of verse 128 can refer either to the Qur'an or to the Holy Prophet ﷺ and the meaning would be, "Did not the Qur'an or the Holy Prophet ﷺ direct them i.e. the people of Makkah and tell them about the nations and the societies who were destroyed because they disobeyed the commands of Allah and turned away from the message brought to them by the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، and whose houses and lands are now occupied by them?" It is also possible that the word ھُدٰی (guidance) may refer to God in which case the meaning would be "Did God not direct."
What does this verse bring up for you today?