Prevented

Nothing prevented people from believing when guidance came to them, nor from seeking forgiveness, except that they awaited the fate of earlier nations or the arrival of punishment before them.

18:55And naught hindereth mankind from believing when the guidance cometh unto them, and from asking forgiveness of their Lord unless (it be that they wish) that the judgment of the men of old should come upon them or (that) they should be confronted with the Doom.

Nothing prevented people from believing when guidance came to them except their objection: “Has Allah sent a human as a messenger?”

17:94And naught prevented mankind from believing when the guidance came unto them save that they said: Hath Allah sent a mortal as (His) messenger?

Say, “Had angels walked the earth, We would have sent an angel as a messenger.”

17:95Say: If there were in the earth angels walking secure, We had sent down for them from heaven an angel as messenger.