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.
Related Ayahs
رَّبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِكُمْ ۖ إِن يَشَأْ يَرْحَمْكُمْ أَوْ إِن يَشَأْ يُعَذِّبْكُمْ ۚ وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَكِيلًا
Your Lord is most knowing of you. If He wills, He will have mercy upon you; or if He wills, He will punish you. And We have not sent you, [O Muḥammad], over them as a manager.
وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّاسَ بِمَا كَسَبُوا۟ مَا تَرَكَ عَلَىٰ ظَهْرِهَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ وَلَـٰكِن يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِعِبَادِهِۦ بَصِيرًۢا
And if Allāh were to impose blame on the people for what they have earned, He would not leave upon it [i.e., the earth] any creature. But He defers them for a specified term. And when their time comes, then indeed Allāh has ever been, of His servants, Seeing.
يَوْمَئِذٍ لَّا تَنفَعُ ٱلشَّفَـٰعَةُ إِلَّا مَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ وَرَضِىَ لَهُۥ قَوْلًا
That Day, no intercession will benefit except [that of] one to whom the Most Merciful has given permission and has accepted his word.
ٱلَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ ٱلَّذِى يَتَخَبَّطُهُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ مِنَ ٱلْمَسِّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا ٱلْبَيْعُ مِثْلُ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ ۗ وَأَحَلَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ ۚ فَمَن جَآءَهُۥ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ فَٱنتَهَىٰ فَلَهُۥ مَا سَلَفَ وَأَمْرُهُۥٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَمَنْ عَادَ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
Those who consume interest cannot stand [on the Day of Resurrection] except as one stands who is being beaten by Satan into insanity. That is because they say, "Trade is [just] like interest." But Allāh has permitted trade and has forbidden interest. So whoever has received an admonition from his Lord and desists may have what is past, and his affair rests with Allāh. But whoever returns [to dealing in interest or usury] - those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide eternally therein.