فَلَوْلَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْقُرُونِ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ أُولُوا بَقِيَّةٍ يَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْفَسَادِ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّمَّنْ أَنجَيْنَا مِنْهُمْ ۗ وَٱتَّبَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مَآ أُتْرِفُوا فِيهِ وَكَانُوا مُجْرِمِينَ

Falawla kana mina alquroonimin qablikum oloo baqiyyatin yanhawna AAani alfasadi feeal-ardi illa qaleelan mimman anjayna minhumwattabaAAa allatheena thalamoo maotrifoo feehi wakanoo mujrimeen

So why were there not among the generations before you those of enduring discrimination forbidding corruption on earth - except a few of those We saved from among them? But those who wronged pursued what luxury they were given therein, and they were criminals.