وَيَسْتَعْجِلُونَكَ بِٱلْعَذَابِ ۚ وَلَوْلَآ أَجَلٌ مُّسَمًّى لَّجَآءَهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَيَأْتِيَنَّهُم بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ 53
Translations
And they urge you to hasten the punishment. And if not for [the decree of] a specified term, punishment would have reached them. But it will surely come to them suddenly while they perceive not.
Transliteration
Wa yasta'jilūnaka bil-'adhāb. Wa law lā ajalun musammun la-jā'ahum ul-'adhāb. Wa la-ya'tiyannuhum baghtatan wa hum lā yash'urūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
The disbelievers urge the Prophet (ﷺ) to bring down Allah's punishment upon them, either out of mockery or false confidence in their security. However, Allah has appointed a specific term for this punishment, and were it not for this divine decree, the torment would have already come upon them. The punishment will certainly arrive suddenly while they are unaware, catching them by surprise when they least expect it. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this reflects Allah's mercy in delaying punishment and His perfect wisdom in appointing specific times for His decree.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Al-'Ankabut, which addresses the mockery and arrogance of the Quraysh toward the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). The broader context of the surah deals with testing, trials, and the patience required of believers. This specific verse responds to the Quraysh's taunting demands for immediate punishment, a common theme in Meccan revelations.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned that Allah respites the wrongdoer until they commit irredeemable wrongs. Additionally, Surah Al-A'raf 7:111 contains similar themes of mockers asking for punishment. The broader principle is found in numerous ahadith about Allah's forbearance (hilm) and the appointed term (ajal) for each soul.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Divine punishment is not delayed due to weakness but according to Allah's perfect wisdom and appointed decree; mockers and wrongdoers should not mistake patience for inability. For believers, it reinforces trust in Allah's ultimate justice and the certainty that no wrongdoing escapes His knowledge, encouraging patience and reliance on His timing rather than seeking vengeance.