15. Hixhr · verses 4–5

وَمَآ أَهۡلَكۡنَا مِن قَرۡيَةٍ إِلَّا وَلَهَا كِتَابٞ مَّعۡلُومٞ

Wama ahlakna min qaryatin illa walaha kitabun maAAloomun

Never did We destroy a population that had not a term decreed and assigned beforehand.

مَّا تَسۡبِقُ مِنۡ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلَهَا وَمَا يَسۡتَـٔۡخِرُونَ

Ma tasbiqu min ommatin ajalaha wama yastakhiroona

Neither can a people anticipate its term, nor delay it.