and never would your lord have destroyed the cities until he had sent to their mother a messenger reciting to them our verses. and we would not destroy the cities except while their people were wrongdoers.
وما كان ربك مهلك القرى حتى يبعث في أمها رسولا يتلو عليهم آياتنا وما كنا مهلكي القرى إلا وأهلها ظالمون