if god were to punish the people for what they have earned he would not leave a single living creature on its surface. but he defers them until a stated time. then when their time has arrived—god is observant of his creatures.
ولو يؤاخذ الله الناس بما كسبوا ما ترك على ظهرها من دابة ولكن يؤخرهم إلى أجل مسمى فإذا جاء أجلهم فإن الله كان بعباده بصيرا