And when they were threatened by the verse of enjoyment and the distraction of hope; and it was very well known of their conditions that they hastened towards punishment; in denial and mockery; the words were strong enough to say: So they said: O you to whom the Reminder has been revealed; hasten for us what you threaten us with; and this was provoking; painful; carrying on the desire for the quick infliction upon them; it was said in response: Indeed, for them is a term with a known book; they must reach it; because the one who threatens does not fear missing it; for he gives respite and does not neglect; because the saying is not changed with Him; so let them prepare; for the matter is unseen; there is not a moment except that it is suitable for punishment to be expected in it; for we do not destroy them except when they reach their known decree; and this; we have made it specific to them; rather, it is our custom; 'We did not destroy' [Al-Qasas: 43]; meaning: according to what we have of greatness; and He confirmed the negation by saying: 'from a village'; meaning: from the villages.

And when the context was for destruction; and their hastening; and their mockery of it; and the estimation of it - glorified and exalted is He - and His books are from the realm of the unseen; the situation necessitated the confirmation by what indicates that it is inevitable; predetermined; its estimation preceding the time of destruction; so He came with the conjunction 'and' because the situation without the conjunction is like a part of its predecessor like the news; and the description; which does not complete the meaning without it; and that which is with the conjunction is an addition to the previous news; and for this reason, it was necessary to connect with 'and'; just as it is connected in conjunction; so He said: 'except that it has a decree'; meaning: and the situation is that it has a decree in destruction; or for its destruction; 'a known decree'; meaning: a fixed term; written in the preserved tablet; or the estimation may be: they will soon know when the punishment comes to them at the term we have written for them: will they wish for Islam; or not?