If the decree (of respite) had not been pronounced by your Lord, (the inevitable judgement would have ensued); but a term is fixed (for everything).
و اگر سنّت و تقدیر پروردگارت و ملاحظه زمان مقرّر نبود، عذاب الهی بزودی دامان آنان را می‌گرفت!