(61) “If Allah were to take people to task for their wrongdoing, He would not leave a single living creature upon the earth. But He delays them until an appointed term. When their term arrives, they can neither delay it by a single hour nor advance it.”

After mentioning what the wrongdoers fabricated against Him, Allah Most High described His perfect forbearance and patience, saying: “If Allah were to take people to task for their wrongdoing”—in full, neither more nor less—“He would not leave a single living creature upon the earth.” That is, He would destroy both those who directly commit the sins and other kinds of creatures and animals, for the evil consequences of sins destroy crops and offspring.

“But He delays them,” withholding immediate punishment from them until an appointed term, namely the Day of Resurrection. “When their term arrives, they can neither delay it by a single hour nor advance it.” Therefore, let them beware while they are still enjoying a period of respite, before the time comes when no respite will be granted.