Surah Al-Araf Verse 164 - English Translation by Maududi
Surah Al-Arafوَإِذۡ قَالَتۡ أُمَّةٞ مِّنۡهُمۡ لِمَ تَعِظُونَ قَوۡمًا ٱللَّهُ مُهۡلِكُهُمۡ أَوۡ مُعَذِّبُهُمۡ عَذَابٗا شَدِيدٗاۖ قَالُواْ مَعۡذِرَةً إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمۡ وَلَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَّقُونَ
And recall when a party of them said: ´Why do you admonish a people whom Allah is about to destroy or punish severely?´ They said: ´We admonish them in order to be able to offer an excuse before Your Lord, and in the hope that they will guard against disobedience.´