and recall what time a community of them said why exhort ye a people whom allah is going to destroy or chastise with a severe chastisenent they said to justify us before your lord and that haply they may fear.
وإذ قالت أمة منهم لم تعظون قوما الله مهلكهم أو معذبهم عذابا شديدا قالوا معذرة إلى ربكم ولعلهم يتقون