58وَإِن مِن قَريَةٍ إِلّا نَحنُ مُهلِكوها قَبلَ يَومِ القِيامَةِ أَو مُعَذِّبوها عَذابًا شَديدًا ۚ كانَ ذٰلِكَ فِي الكِتابِ مَسطورًاMuhammad AsadAnd [bear in mind:] there is no community which We will not destroy before the Day of Resurrection,1 or chastise [even earlier, if it proves sinful,] with suffering severe: all this is laid down in Our decree.2I.e., since everything in this world is ephemeral and bound to perish, man ought to be conscious of the life to come.Lit., "in the decree" - i.e., in accordance with the immutable laws which God has laid down for His creation.