If only some of those among the previous generations possessed enough intelligence to forbid evil! Only a few of them deserved to be saved by us. As for the transgressors, they were preoccupied with their material luxuries; they were guilty.
فَلَولا كانَ مِنَ القُرونِ مِن قَبلِكُم أُولوا بَقِيَّةٍ يَنهَونَ عَنِ الفَسادِ فِى الأَرضِ إِلّا قَليلًا مِمَّن أَنجَينا مِنهُم وَاتَّبَعَ الَّذينَ ظَلَموا ما أُترِفوا فيهِ وَكانوا مُجرِمينَ
falaw laa kaana minal qurooni min qablikum ooloo baqiyyatiny yanhawna ‘anil fasaadi fil ardi illaa qaleelam mimman anjainaa minhum; wattaba’al lazeena zalamoo maaa utrifoo feehi wa kaanoo mujrimeen