وَمَا And nothing مَنَعَ prevents ٱلنَّاسَ men أَن that يُؤْمِنُوٓا۟ they believe إِذْ when جَآءَهُمُ has come to them ٱلْهُدَىٰ the guidance وَيَسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ and they ask forgiveness رَبَّهُمْ (of) their Lord إِلَّآ except أَن that تَأْتِيَهُمْ comes to them سُنَّةُ (the) way ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ (of) the former (people) أَوْ or يَأْتِيَهُمُ comes to them ٱلْعَذَابُ the punishment قُبُلًۭا before (them) ٥٥
And nothing has prevented the people from believing when guidance came to them and from asking forgiveness of their Lord except that there [must] befall them the [accustomed] precedent of the former peoples or that the punishment should come [directly] before them.
— Come To Light