وَإِذْ And when قَالَتْ said أُمَّةٌۭ a community مِّنْهُمْ among them لِمَ Why تَعِظُونَ (do) you preach قَوْمًا ۙ a people ٱللَّهُ (whom) Allah مُهْلِكُهُمْ (is going to) destroy them أَوْ or مُعَذِّبُهُمْ punish them عَذَابًۭا (with) a punishment شَدِيدًۭا ۖ severe قَالُوا۟ They said مَعْذِرَةً To be absolved إِلَىٰ before رَبِّكُمْ your Lord وَلَعَلَّهُمْ and that they may يَتَّقُونَ become righteous ١٦٤
And when a community among them said, "Why do you advise [or warn] a people whom Allāh is [about] to destroy or to punish with a severe punishment?" they [the advisors] said, "To be absolved before your Lord and perhaps they may fear Him."
— Come To Light