"And for every nation is a term appointed"—the verse means: when a people reject their messengers, and the time arrives in which the punishment is to come upon them, "then they will not remain behind" the punishment "for an hour, nor will they precede it."
﴿وَلكُل أمة أجل﴾ الْآيَةَ، يَعْنِي: أَنَّ الْقَوْمَ إِذَا كَذَّبُوا رُسُلَهُمْ، فَجَاءَ الْوَقْتُ الَّذِي يَأْتِيهِمْ فِيهِ الْعَذَابُ ﴿فَإِنَّهُمْ لَا يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ﴾ عَن الْعَذَاب ﴿سَاعَة وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ﴾ عَنهُ.
