وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ لِيُهْلِكَ الْقُرَى بِظُلْمٍ وَأَهْلُهَا مُصْلِحُونَ ﴿۱۱۷﴾ وَلَوْ شَاءَ رَبُّكَ لَجَعَلَ النَّاسَ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَلَا يَزَالُونَ مُخْتَلِفِينَ ﴿۱۱۸﴾ إِلَّا مَنْ رَحِمَ رَبُّكَ وَلِذَلِكَ خَلَقَهُمْ وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ لَأَمْلَأَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ ﴿۱۱۹﴾

﴾117﴿ Wa maa kaana Rabbuka liyuhlikal quraa bizulminw wa ahluhaa muslihoon
﴾118﴿ Wa law shaaa'a Rabbuka laja'alannnaasa ummatanw waa hidatanw wa laa yazaaloona mukhtalifeen
﴾119﴿ Illaa mar rahima Rabbuk; wa lizaalika khalaqahum; wa tammat Kalimatu Rabbika la amla'ana Jahannama minal jinnati wannnaasi ajma'een

﴾117﴿ And your Lord would not destroy the towns unjustly while their inhabitants were reformers
﴾118﴿ And if your Lord had willed, He could have made mankind one community, but they will not cease to differ
﴾119﴿ Except those upon whom your Lord has mercy; and for this He created them. And the word of your Lord has been fulfilled: 'Surely I will fill Hell with jinn and men, all together

[117] This verse highlights the benefit of da‘wah (calling to truth). The meaning is that those who call to Allah and reform society — referred to here as "muṣliḥīn" (the righteous reformers) — are a means of protection for their communities.
According to Allah’s established law (ʿādah ilāhiyyah), as long as there are righteous callers to truth within a town or nation, Allah does not send a total, destructive punishment upon that place, even if shirk and other sins exist — this is also mentioned in Surah al-Anʿām (6:131–132).
So, the word (أَهْلُهَا) — "its people" — can refer to some of the people, namely the truthful callers, not necessarily all residents.
Some commentators, however, interpret (أَهْلُهَا) as referring to the disbelievers, and (مُصْلِحُونَ) as those who reform in worldly matters, such as justice in trade and social dealings.
According to this view, Allah does not send a total (istīṣālī) punishment solely for shirk unless the people also begin to spread oppression and injustice.
Thus, the verse emphasizes the protective role of da‘wah and righteousness, showing that the presence of reformers can delay or prevent divine punishment.
[118] This verse indicates that the efforts of the reformers (muṣliḥīn) cannot be effective without the will (mashī’ah) of Allah.
Allah has not willed that all of humanity be united on one religion — rather, by His wisdom, people have been divided into different religions and sects.
The intended meaning of “division” in this verse refers to those who follow falsehood, where each group believes they are upon the truth, while in reality, they are all on falsehood.
So, the verse teaches that true guidance lies with Allah, and while reformers must strive, universal unity in religion will not occur until Allah wills it, and that will only come in the Hereafter — in the form of ultimate judgment and distinction between truth and falsehood.
[119] The believers referred to here are the true monotheists, who have no differences in core beliefs or principles. Any differences among them are in secondary matters, which are not true divisions but rather a form of diversity and breadth in understanding.
(رَحِمَ رَبُّكَ) — refers to the mercy of Allah, which here means the divine guidance and ability to remain upon the truth.
(وَلِذَٰلِكَ خَلَقَهُمْ) — points to both difference and mercy, meaning: Allah created some people for guidance and mercy, and others for misguidance and division — this all falls under His divine decree (taqdīr).
(لَأَمْلَأَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ...) — indicates that not only humans and jinn, but also other creatures will not be cast into Hell — the emphasis is on humans and jinn, who have free will and accountability.
The phrase (لَأَمْلَأَنَّ) is an explanation of (كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ) — the Word of your Lord — which refers to Allah’s decree that Paradise and Hell would be filled according to what has already been written.
There are numerous authentic hadiths confirming that the fate of people toward Paradise or Hell is already decreed by Allah’s eternal knowledge.
The phrase (مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ) refers to the differing groups, meaning: those who opposed the truth and chose misguidance — they are among those destined for punishment.