We created them and fixed their bones and joints; and We could replace them when We like with others like them.
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Tafseer
'Abdullāh Ibn 'Abbās / Muḥammad al-Fīrūzabādī
تفسير : (we, even we, created them) i.e. the people of mecca, (and strengthened their frame) and made their constitution strong. (and when we will, we can replace them, bringing others like them) i.e. we destroy them (in their stead) he says: if we had willed, we would have destroyed these sinful and disbelieving people and brought instead of them people who are better and more obedient.
Jalāl al-Dīn al-Maḥallī
تفسير : we created them and made firm their frames, their limbs and their joints, and, whenever we will, we can completely replace them with others like them, in terms of their created form, in place of them, by destroying them (tabdīlan, ‘completely’, is for emphasis; idhā, ‘when’, functions in the sense of in, ‘if’, similar to [where god says in several places], in yasha’ yudhhibkum, if he will, he can take you away [cf. q. 14:19]; but because he, exalted be he, has not willed this, it has not happened thus far).
