وَلَا يَزَالُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فِى مِرْيَةٍ مِّنْهُ حَتَّىٰ تَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ بَغْتَةً أَوْ يَأْتِيَهُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمٍ عَقِيمٍ 55
Translations
But those who disbelieve will not cease to be in doubt of it until the Hour comes upon them unexpectedly or there comes to them the punishment of a barren Day.
Transliteration
Wa lā yazālu alladhīna kafarū fī miryatin minhu hattā ta'tiyahumu as-sā'atu baghtatan aw ya'tīhum 'adhābu yawmin 'aqīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the persistent doubt and denial of the disbelievers regarding the Qur'an and the Message, stating they will remain in this state of uncertainty until the Hour comes upon them suddenly or until they are punished with a Day of torment. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as referring to either the Day of Judgment (al-Sā'ah) which will come without warning, or the punishment in this life (such as at Badr or other battles). The ayah emphasizes that the disbelievers' obstinate refusal to believe will lead them to inevitable divine punishment.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Hajj is a Medinan surah revealed during a period when the Muslim community faced opposition from both pagan Meccans and hypocrites within Medina. This ayah appears in the context of refuting disbelief and warning against the consequences of rejecting divine signs. It reflects the thematic concern of the surah with matters of faith, pilgrimage, and the ultimate accountability before Allah.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The Hour will not be established until there come forth thirty Dajjals (liars), each one claiming to be a messenger of Allah.' (Sunan Abu Dawud) - This relates to the sudden nature of the Hour's arrival. Also relevant is the hadith: 'Verily, the most truthful of speech is the Book of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad.' (Sunan An-Nasa'i) - emphasizing rejection of the Qur'an as a source of misguidance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that obstinate rejection of truth leads to spiritual blindness and inevitable consequences, whether in this life or the Hereafter. For believers, it serves as a reminder of the importance of accepting divine guidance with open hearts while there is still time, before accountability comes upon us unexpectedly.
Related Ayahs
وَٱلَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ قُتِلُوٓا۟ أَوْ مَاتُوا۟ لَيَرْزُقَنَّهُمُ ٱللَّهُ رِزْقًا حَسَنًا ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰزِقِينَ
And those who emigrated for the cause of Allāh and then were killed or died - Allāh will surely provide for them a good provision. And indeed, it is Allāh who is the best of providers.
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْحَقُّ وَأَنَّهُۥ يُحْىِ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ وَأَنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
That is because Allāh is the True Reality and because He gives life to the dead and because He is over all things competent
وَٱلْبُدْنَ جَعَلْنَـٰهَا لَكُم مِّن شَعَـٰٓئِرِ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ فِيهَا خَيْرٌ ۖ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا صَوَآفَّ ۖ فَإِذَا وَجَبَتْ جُنُوبُهَا فَكُلُوا۟ مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا۟ ٱلْقَانِعَ وَٱلْمُعْتَرَّ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ سَخَّرْنَـٰهَا لَكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
And the camels and cattle We have appointed for you as among the symbols [i.e., rites] of Allāh; for you therein is good. So mention the name of Allāh upon them when lined up [for sacrifice]; and when they are [lifeless] on their sides, then eat from them and feed the needy [who does not seek aid] and the beggar. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may be grateful.
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَعْبُدُ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ حَرْفٍ ۖ فَإِنْ أَصَابَهُۥ خَيْرٌ ٱطْمَأَنَّ بِهِۦ ۖ وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ فِتْنَةٌ ٱنقَلَبَ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِۦ خَسِرَ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْخُسْرَانُ ٱلْمُبِينُ
And of the people is he who worships Allāh on an edge. If he is touched by good, he is reassured by it; but if he is struck by trial, he turns on his face [to unbelief]. He has lost [this] world and the Hereafter. That is what is the manifest loss.