وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَـٰذَا ٱلْفَتْحُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ 28
Translations
And they say, "When will be this conquest, if you should be truthful?"
Transliteration
Wa-yaqūlūna matā hādhā al-fatḥu in kuntum ṣādiqīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The disbelievers mockingly ask the believers, 'When will this victory (or conquest/divine judgment) come if you are truthful?' This ayah addresses the taunting of the Meccan polytheists who doubted the Prophet's message and challenged Muslims to produce proof of Allah's promised aid and victory. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir interpret 'al-fath' (the opening/victory) to refer to either the conquest of Mecca, Allah's judgment against the disbelievers, or the general triumph of Islam, emphasizing that Allah's promises come in His own time and testing believers' patience is part of their faith.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of As-Sajdah's broader context addressing the mockery and challenges faced by early Muslims in Mecca. The polytheists consistently taunted believers about the fulfillment of Quranic promises, particularly regarding divine aid and victory. This surah was revealed during the Meccan period when Muslims faced persecution and ridicule from those who doubted the truthfulness of the message.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to Surah Al-'Ankabut 29:2-3 with the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet ﷺ stated: 'The people will be tested according to the degree of their faith.' Additionally, Tirmidhi records the Prophet's encouragement to patience when facing such mockery, emphasizing that Allah's promise is true even when disbelievers doubt.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to remain steadfast despite ridicule and doubt from others, trusting in Allah's promises even when their fulfillment seems delayed. It reminds us that faith is tested through opposition, and patience in adversity is a sign of sincere belief in Allah's guidance.
Related Ayahs
وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن ذُكِّرَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِۦ ثُمَّ أَعْرَضَ عَنْهَآ ۚ إِنَّا مِنَ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ مُنتَقِمُونَ
And who is more unjust than one who is reminded of the verses of his Lord; then he turns away from them? Indeed We, from the criminals, will take retribution.
ثُمَّ سَوَّىٰهُ وَنَفَخَ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِهِۦ ۖ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْأَبْصَـٰرَ وَٱلْأَفْـِٔدَةَ ۚ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ
Then He proportioned him and breathed into him from His [created] soul and made for you hearing and vision and hearts [i.e., intellect]; little are you grateful.
أَمْ يَقُولُونَ ٱفْتَرَىٰهُ ۚ بَلْ هُوَ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ لِتُنذِرَ قَوْمًا مَّآ أَتَىٰهُم مِّن نَّذِيرٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَهْتَدُونَ
Or do they say, "He invented it"? Rather, it is the truth from your Lord, [O Muḥammad], that you may warn a people to whom no warner has come before you [so] perhaps they will be guided.
تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ
Their sides part [i.e., they arise] from [their] beds; they supplicate their Lord in fear and aspiration, and from what We have provided them, they spend.