وَإِنَّهُۥ لَعِلْمٌ لِّلسَّاعَةِ فَلَا تَمْتَرُنَّ بِهَا وَٱتَّبِعُونِ ۚ هَـٰذَا صِرَٰطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌ 61
Translations
And indeed, he [i.e., Jesus] will be [a sign for] knowledge of the Hour, so be not in doubt of it, and follow Me. This is a straight path.
Transliteration
Wa-innahu la-'ilmun li-as-sa'ah fa-la tamtaronna biha wa-attabi'un. Hadha siratun mustaqim.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to 'Isa (Jesus) as a sign of the Hour (Day of Judgment), indicating that his second coming will be a clear indication that the Final Hour is near. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain that the pronoun 'hu' (him) refers to Jesus, whose appearance before the Day of Judgment will serve as definitive knowledge ('ilm) that the Hour is imminent, leaving no room for doubt. The ayah concludes by commanding believers to follow the straight path (sirat al-mustaqim) and not dispute regarding this matter.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Az-Zukhruf's discussion of Jesus and his role in Islamic theology, refuting Christian claims of his divinity. The surah emphasizes monotheism and addresses polytheistic beliefs prevalent in Mecca during the Prophet Muhammad's time. The mention of Jesus's return is part of the broader Islamic eschatological framework presented in this Meccan surah.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad said: 'By the One in whose hand is my soul, the son of Mary will soon descend among you as a just judge...' (Sahih Bukhari, Book of Tafsir). Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim describing the signs of the Hour, which includes the descent of Jesus as a major sign.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that knowledge of the unseen future comes from divine revelation, not speculation, and emphasizes the importance of adhering to the straight path without doubt or dispute regarding matters of faith and the final judgment.
Related Ayahs
وَيُكَلِّمُ ٱلنَّاسَ فِى ٱلْمَهْدِ وَكَهْلًا وَمِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
He will speak to the people in the cradle and in maturity and will be of the righteous."
۞ تِلْكَ ٱلرُّسُلُ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ ۘ مِّنْهُم مَّن كَلَّمَ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَرَفَعَ بَعْضَهُمْ دَرَجَـٰتٍ ۚ وَءَاتَيْنَا عِيسَى ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَأَيَّدْنَـٰهُ بِرُوحِ ٱلْقُدُسِ ۗ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا ٱقْتَتَلَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتُ وَلَـٰكِنِ ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ ءَامَنَ وَمِنْهُم مَّن كَفَرَ ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا ٱقْتَتَلُوا۟ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يُرِيدُ
Those messengers - some of them We caused to exceed others. Among them were those to whom Allāh spoke, and He raised some of them in degree. And We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear proofs, and We supported him with the Pure Spirit [i.e., Gabriel]. If Allāh had willed, those [generations] succeeding them would not have fought each other after the clear proofs had come to them. But they differed, and some of them believed and some of them disbelieved. And if Allāh had willed, they would not have fought each other, but Allāh does what He intends.
بَل رَّفَعَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا
Rather, Allāh raised him to Himself. And ever is Allāh Exalted in Might and Wise.