وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّاسَ بِظُلْمِهِم مَّا تَرَكَ عَلَيْهَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ وَلَـٰكِن يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ لَا يَسْتَـْٔخِرُونَ سَاعَةً ۖ وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ 61
Translations
And if Allāh were to impose blame on the people for their wrongdoing, He would not have left upon it [i.e., the earth] any creature, but He defers them for a specified term. And when their term has come, they will not remain behind an hour, nor will they precede [it].
Transliteration
Wa law yu'akhidhu Allahu an-nasa bi-zhulmihim ma taraka 'alayha min dabbatin wa lakin yu'akhkiruhum ila ajalin musamman fa-idha ja'a ajaluhum la yasta'khirun sa'atan wa la yastaqdimuun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah demonstrates Allah's forbearance and mercy toward mankind despite their injustices; if He were to punish people immediately for their wrongdoing, not a single living creature would remain on earth. Instead, Allah grants respite until an appointed term, and when that term arrives, it cannot be delayed by even an hour, nor can it be advanced. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize this as evidence of Allah's ultimate justice balanced with His patience—He delays punishment to allow time for repentance, yet His decree regarding the appointed time of death or the Day of Judgment is absolute and immutable.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah An-Nahl and is part of a broader discourse on Allah's signs and mercies evident in creation. It contextualizes the theme of divine clemency within the Quranic discussion of how Allah sustains and manages the affairs of His creation despite human transgressions, serving as a reminder to the Meccans of Allah's patience with their rejection of the Message.
Related Hadiths
The concept is reflected in the hadith: 'Verily, Allah grants respite to the wrongdoer, but when He seizes him, He does not let him go' (Sahih Bukhari, from Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari). Additionally, the hadith regarding the respite granted before the Day of Judgment relates to this theme of appointed terms (Sunan Ibn Majah and other sources).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that delay in punishment should not be mistaken for forgiveness or oversight; rather, it is an opportunity for sincere repentance and reform. It also reminds believers that Allah's timing is perfect and predetermined—no one can escape their appointed term, whether in life or death, and true security lies in righteous action and reliance on Allah's wisdom.
Related Ayahs
وَأَقْسَمُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ ۙ لَا يَبْعَثُ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَمُوتُ ۚ بَلَىٰ وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
And they swear by Allāh their strongest oaths [that] Allāh will not resurrect one who dies. But yes - [it is] a true promise [binding] upon Him, but most of the people do not know.
جَنَّـٰتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ ۖ لَهُمْ فِيهَا مَا يَشَآءُونَ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَجْزِى ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ
Gardens of perpetual residence, which they will enter, beneath which rivers flow. They will have therein whatever they wish. Thus does Allāh reward the righteous -
وَأَوْحَىٰ رَبُّكَ إِلَى ٱلنَّحْلِ أَنِ ٱتَّخِذِى مِنَ ٱلْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا وَمِنَ ٱلشَّجَرِ وَمِمَّا يَعْرِشُونَ
And your Lord inspired to the bee, "Take for yourself among the mountains, houses [i.e., hives], and among the trees and [in] that which they construct.
إِنَّ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَانِتًا لِّلَّهِ حَنِيفًا وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
Indeed, Abraham was a [comprehensive] leader, devoutly obedient to Allāh, inclining toward truth, and he was not of those who associate others with Allāh.