إِنَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ لَـَٔاتِيَةٌ لَّا رَيْبَ فِيهَا وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ 59
Translations
Indeed, the Hour is coming - no doubt about it - but most of the people do not believe.
Transliteration
Inna as-sa'ata la-atiatan la rayba fiha wa-lakinna akthara an-nasi la yu'minun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms with certainty (inna) that the Hour (Day of Judgment) will definitely come with no doubt whatsoever, yet most people refuse to believe in it. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize that despite the Qur'an's repeated and conclusive proofs of the Hereafter, human heedlessness and denial remain widespread, reflecting the tension between divine clarity and human rejection that characterizes the disbelievers' stance throughout Surah Ghafir.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period within Surah Ghafir, which addresses the denial of the Hereafter prevalent among Meccan polytheists. The surah's broader context emphasizes Allah's patience with deniers and the certainty of the Day of Judgment despite widespread disbelief—themes central to early Meccan preaching when the Prophet faced intense opposition to his message about the Afterlife.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The Hour will not be established until... knowledge is taken away' (Sahih Bukhari 81). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim about the signs of the Hour relates to this theme of people's denial of its coming despite its certainty.
Themes
Key Lesson
Despite the absolute certainty of the Hereafter established in revelation, many people remain unmoved and disbelieving—a reminder that conviction requires both clear signs and receptive hearts. For believers, this ayah should strengthen certainty in the Afterlife and inspire renewed commitment to preparation through righteous deeds, while recognizing that not all will accept even the clearest truths.