وَلَوْلَا And if not كَلِمَةٌۭ (for) a Word سَبَقَتْ (that) preceded مِن from رَّبِّكَ your Lord لَكَانَ surely (would) have been لِزَامًۭا an obligation وَأَجَلٌۭ and a term مُّسَمًّۭى determined ١٢٩
And if not for a word that preceded from your Lord, it [i.e., punishment] would have been an obligation [due immediately], and [if not for] a specified term [decreed].
— Come To Light