وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةٌ سَبَقَتْ مِن رَّبِّكَ لَكَانَ لِزَامًا وَأَجَلٌ مُّسَمًّى

And had there not been a word (that had) already gone forth from your Lord and an appointed term, it would surely have been made to cleave (to them).