Surah Al-A'raf (The Heights), Verse 164

وَاِذْ قَالَتْ اُمَّةٌ مِّنْهُمْ لِمَ تَعِظُوْنَ قَوْمَا ݹللّٰهُ مُهْلِكُهُمْ اَوْ مُعَذِّبُهُمْ عَذَابًا شَدِیْدًا قَالُوْا مَعْذِرَةً اِلٰی رَبِّكُمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ یَتَّقُوْنَ ۟

Wa iz qaalat ummatum minhum lima ta'izoona qaw manil laahu muhlikuhum aw mu'azzibuhum 'azaaban shadeedan qaaloo ma'ziratan ilaa Rabbikum wa la'allahum yattaqoon

“When some of them said: "Why do ye preach to a people whom Allah will destroy or visit with a terrible punishment?"- said the preachers:" To discharge our duty to your Lord, and perchance they may fear Him."”

Quran 7:164 (Yusuf Ali Translation)