some of them: “Not all of it has yet come to them.” According to the correct meaning, however, the imperfect tense is appropriate here, as in Allah’s words:

“Allah would not leave the believers in the state you are in until He distinguishes the evil from the good.”

The intended meaning is that they were not to be released and left alone until the clear evidence comes to them. He, glorified be He, said: “Those who disbelieved were not…” Although the particle lam gives the imperfect verb a past meaning, this applies when the verb stands alone. Thus, lam ya’ti and lam yadhhab mean mā atā (“he did not come”) and mā dhahaba (“he did not go”). But when one says, “He would not do this,” or, as Allah says:

“Allah would not forgive them, nor would He guide them to a way,”

the intended meaning is an enduring action, without restriction to a particular time. Saying, “So-and-so would not come until so-and-so went to him,” differs from saying, “So-and-so had not come until so-and-so went to him.” Likewise, saying, “So-and-so would not do this until such-and-such happens,” conveys a similar meaning, unlike saying, “So-and-so had not done it until so-and-so came.” Thus, the imperfect verb is negated, with an active participle as its predicate, denoting continuity.

The intended meaning is that they were not to be left alone, in the present or the future, until the clear evidence comes to them. Had the wording here been “until the clear evidence came to them,” it would not have been appropriate.