11:116 falawlaa kaana minal quruuni min qablikum uluu baqiy-yatiy yanhawna 'Anil fasaadi fiyl arDi il-laa qaliylam mim-man anjaynaa minhum* wat-taba'Al-ladhiyna Zalamuu maa utrifuu fiyhi wa kaanuu mujrimiyn

Click here to play the verse

Ahmed Raza Khan: Mohammed Aqib Qadri:
So why were not there some people, from the generations before you, who had some goodness remaining in them in order to prevent (others) from causing turmoil in the earth? Except a few among them - the very ones whom We had rescued; and the unjust remained pursuing what they were given, and they were guilty.

Yusuf Ali:
Why were there not, among the generations before you, persons possessed of balanced good sense, prohibiting (men) from mischief in the earth - except a few among them whom We saved (from harm)? But the wrong-doers pursued the enjoyment of the good things of life which were given them, and persisted in sin.

Pickthal:
If only there had been among the generations before you men possessing a remnant (of good sense) to warn (their people) from corruption in the earth, as did a few of those whom We saved from them! The wrong-doers followed that by which they were made sapless, and were guilty.