وَاِذْwa-idhAnd whenقَالَتْqālatsaidاُمَّةٌummatuna communityمِنْهُمْmin'humamong themلِمَlimaWhyتَعِظُونَtaʿiẓūna(do) you preachقَوْماًۙۨqawmana peopleاللّٰهُl-lahu(whom) Allahمُهْلِكُهُمْmuh'likuhum(is going to) destroy themاَوْaworمُعَذِّبُهُمْmuʿadhibuhumpunish themعَذَاباًʿadhāban(with) a punishmentشَد۪يداًۜshadīdansevereقَالُواqālūThey saidمَعْذِرَةًmaʿdhiratanTo be absolvedاِلٰىilābeforeرَبِّكُمْrabbikumyour Lordوَلَعَلَّهُمْwalaʿallahumand that they mayيَتَّقُونَyattaqūnabecome righteousA nation from amongst them said, "Why do you preach to a people whom God will destroy or punish a painful retribution?" They said, "To fulfill our duty to your Lord, and perhaps they may become aware."