وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلٌ ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ لَا يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ سَاعَةً ۖ وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ 34
Translations
And for every nation is a [specified] term. So when their time has come, they will not remain behind an hour, nor will they precede [it].
Transliteration
Wa li-kulli ummatin ajalun fa-iza ja'a ajaluhum la yasta'khirun sa'atan wa la yastaqdimu
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes the divine principle that every nation has an appointed term (ajal) fixed by Allah, and when that predetermined time arrives, they cannot delay it by even a moment, nor can they advance it. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as affirming Allah's absolute sovereignty over the lifespan of communities and individuals, with no power to alter what has been decreed. The ayah emphasizes the certainty of death and the immutability of divine destiny.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Mecca during a period when the Quraysh were rejecting the message of the Prophet and demanding miracles. This ayah contextualizes the ultimate fate of nations within the broader Meccan theme of resurrection, divine justice, and the accountability of communities for their response to prophethood.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The lifespan of this Ummah is between 60 to 70 years' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith: 'When the time of a person's death approaches, no deed will be accepted' (Sahih Muslim) reinforces the concept of predetermined terms.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to accept the will of Allah with patience and surrender, understanding that our appointed time is known only to Him and is beyond our control. It should inspire us to focus on righteous deeds and obedience rather than anxiety about the future, trusting in Allah's infinite wisdom.
Related Ayahs
قَالَ فِيهَا تَحْيَوْنَ وَفِيهَا تَمُوتُونَ وَمِنْهَا تُخْرَجُونَ
He said, "Therein you will live, and therein you will die, and from it you will be brought forth."
لَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُم مِّنْ خِلَـٰفٍ ثُمَّ لَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides; then I will surely crucify you all."
أَوَعَجِبْتُمْ أَن جَآءَكُمْ ذِكْرٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَلَىٰ رَجُلٍ مِّنكُمْ لِيُنذِرَكُمْ ۚ وَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ إِذْ جَعَلَكُمْ خُلَفَآءَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ وَزَادَكُمْ فِى ٱلْخَلْقِ بَصْۜطَةً ۖ فَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ ءَالَآءَ ٱللَّهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
Then do you wonder that there has come to you a reminder from your Lord through a man from among you, that he may warn you? And remember when He made you successors after the people of Noah and increased you in stature extensively. So remember the favors of Allāh that you might succeed."
وَلَقَدْ ذَرَأْنَا لِجَهَنَّمَ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ ۖ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌ لَّا يَفْقَهُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ أَعْيُنٌ لَّا يُبْصِرُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ ءَاذَانٌ لَّا يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَآ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ كَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْغَـٰفِلُونَ
And We have certainly created for Hell many of the jinn and mankind. They have hearts with which they do not understand, they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear. Those are like livestock; rather, they are more astray. It is they who are the heedless.