Verse 46
Explained in Detail • makkah
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وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَٰبَ فَٱخْتُلِفَ فِيهِ ۗ وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةٌ سَبَقَتْ مِن رَّبِّكَ لَقُضِىَ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَفِى شَكٍّ مِّنْهُ مُرِيبٍ
10:20; 11:111; 20:130; 42:15.
Commentary:
The words, the matter would have been decided between them, signify that the guilt of disbelievers was so serious and patent that they would have been destroyed long ago, had it not been for the fact that God had created mankind for spiritual progress and that men might receive His mercy. The Divine punishment is deferred and postponed also because during the interval many of the enemies of truth may have an opportunity to accept the same. See also 7:157 & 11:111, 120.
10:20; 11:111; 20:130; 42:15.
The reference is to the Divine words, "My mercy encompasses all things" (7:157).