The construction lam yatruk ... wa-lā ... illā first gives the widespread destructive effect, then makes a restricted exception for construction reinforced with stone. Buildings are differentiated by their resilience.
Grammatically, lam negates the past through a jussive imperfect, so yatruk is jussive. Illā introduces the exception, limiting the preceding general statement.
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Imruʾ al-Qays: Lightning, Rain, Floods, and the Muʿallaqah’s Finale (Verses 70–81)
The construction lam yatruk ... wa-lā ... illā first gives the widespread destructive effect, then makes a restricted exception for construction reinforced with stone. Buildings are differentiated by their resilience.
Grammatically, lam negates the past through a jussive imperfect, so yatruk is jussive. Illā introduces the exception, limiting the preceding general statement.