Commentary
And when it was that perhaps those who have no insight thought that this punishment is greater and more than what they deserve, He responded, glorified is He, by saying to increase their punishment by their returning with blame upon themselves and their falling into the gatherings of regret: "And We did not wrong them" is a type of injustice, for it is impossible for Him, exalted is He, to commit injustice. "But they were" a nature, a disposition, an action, and a constant practice, "they" meaning specifically "the wrongdoers" because they confronted the One who bestowed upon them with great blessings and intended that they would not cease from that, they remained. And actions are by intentions, and if they were able to not die, they would not have died.
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