ٱقْتَرَبَ لِلنَّاسِ حِسَابُهُمْ وَهُمْ فِى غَفْلَةٍ مُّعْرِضُونَ 1
Translations
[The time of] their account has approached for the people, while they are in heedlessness turning away.
Transliteration
Iqtaraba lilnnasi hisabuhum wa hum fi ghaflatin mu'ridun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This opening ayah of Surah Al-Anbiya declares that the Day of Judgment has drawn near for humanity, yet they remain heedless and turning away from the signs and warnings of Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that despite the proximity of the Hour, people continue in negligence and aversion to remembrance of Allah and His messages. The ayah serves as a powerful reminder of the urgency of the message and the spiritual danger of heedlessness regarding the afterlife.
Revelation Context
This Meccan surah was revealed during the early period of Islam when the Quraysh rejected the Prophet's message. The opening ayah sets the tone for the entire surah by warning of the impending Day of Judgment, challenging the polytheists' denial and their dismissal of prophetic warnings. It contextualizes why the stories of the prophets that follow are relevant—to demonstrate that Allah's judgment is certain and that people have repeatedly ignored divine guidance throughout history.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The Hour will be established suddenly. Its suddenness is part of its horror.' (Tirmidhi). Also relevant: 'How many people are deceived by the delaying of punishment [from Allah]?' referencing those in heedlessness (Ibn Majah).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah urges believers to maintain constant awareness of Allah and readiness for the Day of Judgment, rejecting the complacency and heedlessness that characterizes those who deny the afterlife. It reminds us that time is precious and that devotion to remembrance of Allah and righteous deeds should be our priority, not worldly distractions.
Related Ayahs
وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنَا فِى ٱلزَّبُورِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ٱلذِّكْرِ أَنَّ ٱلْأَرْضَ يَرِثُهَا عِبَادِىَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحُونَ
And We have already written in the book [of Psalms] after the [previous] mention that the land [of Paradise] is inherited by My righteous servants.
قَالُوا۟ مَن فَعَلَ هَـٰذَا بِـَٔالِهَتِنَآ إِنَّهُۥ لَمِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
They said, "Who has done this to our gods? Indeed, he is of the wrongdoers."
وَذَا ٱلنُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَـٰضِبًا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَادَىٰ فِى ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ أَن لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And [mention] the man of the fish [i.e., Jonah], when he went off in anger and thought that We would not decree [anything] upon him. And he called out within the darknesses, "There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers."
لَاهِيَةً قُلُوبُهُمْ ۗ وَأَسَرُّوا۟ ٱلنَّجْوَى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ هَلْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ ۖ أَفَتَأْتُونَ ٱلسِّحْرَ وَأَنتُمْ تُبْصِرُونَ
With their hearts distracted. And those who do wrong conceal their private conversation, [saying], "Is this [Prophet] except a human being like you? So would you approach magic while you are aware [of it]?"