translation of 17:16

[ilker]

Salamun alaykum brothers and sisters,

What do you think about the translation of 17:16 ?

Did Brother Joseph talk about this ayah before ?

I don't understand especially the part i wrote in bold (cause Allah (swt) doesn't command evil things!):

"And when We intend to destroy a city, We command its affluent but they defiantly disobey therein; so the word comes into effect upon it, and We destroy it with [complete] destruction."

Take care inshaAllah

[wanderer]

As in, Allah (swt) commands the affluent to be righteous, BUT they ignore Him, so He destroys them for their sins.

[ilker]

Salamun alaykum

Alhamdulillah, brother wanderer thanks for your comment. I thought about what you said but i'm not sure it feels right. Because the beginning of the ayah is: "When We intend to destroy a city/country ... " So, those people must have already deserved the punishment...

[wanderer]

As in, give the affluent and the leaders a second chance to be righteous, but they fail and are destroyed.