فَٱصْبِرْ كَمَا صَبَرَ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْعَزْمِ مِنَ ٱلرُّسُلِ وَلَا تَسْتَعْجِل لَّهُمْ ۚ كَأَنَّهُمْ يَوْمَ يَرَوْنَ مَا يُوعَدُونَ لَمْ يَلْبَثُوٓا۟ إِلَّا سَاعَةً مِّن نَّهَارٍۭ ۚ بَلَـٰغٌ ۚ فَهَلْ يُهْلَكُ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلْفَـٰسِقُونَ 35
Translations
So be patient, [O Muḥammad], as were those of determination among the messengers and do not be impatient for them. It will be - on the Day they see that which they are promised - as though they had not remained [in the world] except an hour of a day. [This is] notification. And will [any] be destroyed except the defiantly disobedient people?
Transliteration
Fa-sabbir kamā sabbara ulū al-'azmi mina al-rusuli wa-lā tasta'jil lahum. Ka-annahum yawma yarawn mā yū'adūn lam yalbathū illā sā'atan min nahār. Balāgh. Fa-hal yuhlaku illā al-qawm al-fāsiqūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to exercise patience like the resolute messengers before him (Ulūl-'Azm: Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad), and not to hasten the punishment for the disbelievers. On the Day of Judgment, when the disbelievers witness what was promised to them, they will perceive their entire worldly life as having lasted merely an hour of the day. This is a clear message and warning, and only the wicked (fāsiqūn) face destruction. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari emphasize that this ayah provides consolation to the Prophet during persecution and assurance that divine justice will ultimately prevail.
Revelation Context
This ayah concludes Surah Al-Ahqaf, which is Meccan and was revealed during a period of intense persecution of Muslims in Mecca. The broader context of the surah addresses the disbelievers' rejection of the message and their mockery of the Prophet. This final ayah serves to reassure the believers and the Prophet of the eventual triumph of the message and the consequences awaiting the deniers.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those with the best manners,' (Sahih Bukhari 3559), exemplifying the patience and character of Ulūl-'Azm. Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet mentioned the five resolute messengers (Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and himself) as those who were given special steadfastness in their mission.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that patience in the face of hardship and opposition is not a sign of weakness but a noble characteristic modeled by the greatest messengers. In times of trial, remembering that worldly trials are fleeting and that divine justice is certain provides comfort and strengthens resolve to remain steadfast on the path of truth.