28

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 Allahu ta’ālā 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).