أَوَأَمِنَ أَهْلُ ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ أَن يَأْتِيَهُم بَأْسُنَا ضُحًى وَهُمْ يَلْعَبُونَ 98
Translations
Or did the people of the cities feel secure from Our punishment coming to them in the morning while they were at play?
Transliteration
Awa-amina ahlu al-qura an ya'tiyhum ba'suna duhan wa-hum yal'abun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah questions whether the people of the towns felt secure from Allah's punishment coming upon them during the forenoon while they were engaged in play and heedlessness. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as a rhetorical rebuke emphasizing false security and complacency—the people were so absorbed in their worldly amusements that they neglected the signs of Allah and His warnings, making them vulnerable to sudden divine punishment. The ayah serves as a warning against heedlessness and the delusion that one is safe from Allah's consequences regardless of their disobedience.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-A'raf, which addresses the consequences of rejecting Allah's messengers throughout history. It is part of a broader discussion warning the Quraysh and all people against false security and complacency in faith. The specific reference to playing during daytime may allude to the Arabs' tendency toward distraction and neglect of religious responsibilities.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said in Sahih Muslim: 'Two blessings are neglected by many people: health and free time.' This hadith relates thematically to the ayah's warning against wasting time in play and heedlessness. Additionally, the Quran itself states in Surah Al-Anbiya (21:1): 'Closer and closer to mankind comes their Reckoning,' emphasizing sudden accountability.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should never feel so secure in their worldly pursuits that they neglect their spiritual responsibilities and Allah's signs; true security comes only through conscious obedience to Allah, not through heedless entertainment and distraction. This ayah reminds us that punishment can come unexpectedly, making constant mindfulness of Allah and readiness for accountability essential aspects of faith.
Related Ayahs
وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلٌ ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ لَا يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ سَاعَةً ۖ وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ
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].
وَنَزَعَ يَدَهُۥ فَإِذَا هِىَ بَيْضَآءُ لِلنَّـٰظِرِينَ
And he drew out his hand; thereupon it was white [with radiance] for the observers.
يَـٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ لَا يَفْتِنَنَّكُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ كَمَآ أَخْرَجَ أَبَوَيْكُم مِّنَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ يَنزِعُ عَنْهُمَا لِبَاسَهُمَا لِيُرِيَهُمَا سَوْءَٰتِهِمَآ ۗ إِنَّهُۥ يَرَىٰكُمْ هُوَ وَقَبِيلُهُۥ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا تَرَوْنَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينَ أَوْلِيَآءَ لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
O children of Adam, let not Satan tempt you as he removed your parents from Paradise, stripping them of their clothing to show them their private parts. Indeed, he sees you, he and his tribe, from where you do not see them. Indeed, We have made the devils allies to those who do not believe.
قَالَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنِّى ٱصْطَفَيْتُكَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ بِرِسَـٰلَـٰتِى وَبِكَلَـٰمِى فَخُذْ مَآ ءَاتَيْتُكَ وَكُن مِّنَ ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ
[Allāh] said, "O Moses, I have chosen you over the people with My messages and My words [to you]. So take what I have given you and be among the grateful."