قَالَ أَنظِرْنِىٓ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ 14
Translations
[Satan] said, "Reprieve me until the Day they are resurrected."
Transliteration
Qala anzirnee ila yawmi yub'athoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah records Iblis's request to Allah for respite until the Day of Resurrection after being expelled from His mercy. Allah grants this request as a test and trial for mankind, as mentioned in the following ayah (7:15). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this demonstrates Allah's justice in giving Iblis the opportunity he demanded, while also serving as a profound warning about the reality of Satan's enmity toward humanity throughout this worldly life.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative in Surah Al-A'raf detailing the story of Iblis's disobedience and expulsion from Allah's grace. It follows immediately after Allah commanded the angels to prostrate to Adam (7:11-13), and Iblis refused out of arrogance. The context illustrates the cosmic struggle between obedience and rebellion, setting the stage for understanding Satan's role in human temptation until the Day of Judgment.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Muslim (2844) where the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentions that Iblis said: 'By Your might, O Lord, I will not cease to lead them astray as long as their souls are in their bodies.' This directly relates to Iblis's respite and his commitment to lead humanity astray during this period.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that Allah's permission for Satan to exist until the Day of Judgment is a test of our faith and obedience; we must recognize that our struggle against temptation is a divinely ordained trial, and our success lies in seeking Allah's protection through remembrance, obedience, and righteous deeds.
Related Ayahs
أَفَحُكْمَ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِيَّةِ يَبْغُونَ ۚ وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ حُكْمًا لِّقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ
Then is it the judgement of [the time of] ignorance they desire? But who is better than Allāh in judgement for a people who are certain [in faith].
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَوَفَّىٰهُمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ ظَالِمِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ قَالُوا۟ فِيمَ كُنتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ كُنَّا مُسْتَضْعَفِينَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ قَالُوٓا۟ أَلَمْ تَكُنْ أَرْضُ ٱللَّهِ وَٰسِعَةً فَتُهَاجِرُوا۟ فِيهَا ۚ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مَأْوَىٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَسَآءَتْ مَصِيرًا
Indeed, those whom the angels take [in death] while wronging themselves - [the angels] will say, "In what [condition] were you?" They will say, "We were oppressed in the land." They [the angels] will say, "Was not the earth of Allāh spacious [enough] for you to emigrate therein?" For those, their refuge is Hell - and evil it is as a destination.
مَا تَسْبِقُ مِنْ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلَهَا وَمَا يَسْتَـْٔخِرُونَ
No nation will precede its time [of termination], nor will they remain [thereafter].
وَلَوْلَآ أَن كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْجَلَآءَ لَعَذَّبَهُمْ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ عَذَابُ ٱلنَّارِ
And if not that Allāh had decreed for them evacuation, He would have punished them in [this] world, and for them in the Hereafter is the punishment of the Fire.