This is because your Lord would not destroy towns unjustly while their people were negligent.

And it did not beseem your Lord to have destroyed the towns tyrannously, while their people acted well.

And (as for) these towns, We destroyed them when they acted unjustly, and We have appointed a time for their destruction.

So how many a town did We destroy while it was unjust, so it was fallen down upon its roofs, and (how many a) deserted well and palace raised high.

And your Lord never destroyed the towns until He raised in their metropolis a messenger, reciting to them Our communications, and We never destroyed the towns except when their people were unjust.

And when Our messengers came to Ibrahim with the good news, they said: Surely we are going to destroy the people of this town, for its people are unjust.