وَٱنتَظِرُوٓا۟ إِنَّا مُنتَظِرُونَ 122
Translations
And wait; indeed, we are waiting."
Transliteration
Wa-intaziru innā muntazirūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah represents Allah's command to the Prophet Muhammad and the believers to wait patiently for His judgment while He awaits the response of those who reject the message. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain this as a declaration of Allah's forbearance and the ultimate vindication of truth, emphasizing that both the believers and Allah are in a state of expectancy—the believers awaiting divine support and the disbelievers facing inevitable accountability. The ayah conveys both a warning to the rejectors and reassurance to the faithful that Allah is fully aware and will bring about justice in due time.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears near the conclusion of Surah Hud, which was revealed during the Meccan period when the Prophet faced persistent rejection and mockery from the Quraysh. It follows accounts of previous prophets and their patient endurance of their people's disbelief, contextualizing this command within the broader theme of prophetic patience and divine justice throughout the surah.
Related Hadiths
The principle of patient waiting is reinforced in the hadith: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi), which illustrates patience within trials. Additionally, Sahih Bukhari records that 'The strongest of you is the one who controls his anger,' reflecting the patient resolve implied in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that when facing opposition or injustice, patience combined with reliance on Allah's judgment is paramount—we must trust that Allah observes all matters and will ultimately establish justice. It reminds us that waiting for divine justice with firm faith is itself an act of worship and a manifestation of true submission to Allah's wisdom and timing.
Related Ayahs
فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ فَيُوَفِّيهِمْ أُجُورَهُمْ وَيَزِيدُهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦ ۖ وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَنكَفُوا۟ وَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ فَيُعَذِّبُهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا وَلَا يَجِدُونَ لَهُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِيًّا وَلَا نَصِيرًا
And as for those who believed and did righteous deeds, He will give them in full their rewards and grant them extra from His bounty. But as for those who disdained and were arrogant, He will punish them with a painful punishment, and they will not find for themselves besides Allāh any protector or helper.
مَّنِ ٱهْتَدَىٰ فَإِنَّمَا يَهْتَدِى لِنَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَن ضَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيْهَا ۚ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۗ وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّىٰ نَبْعَثَ رَسُولًا
Whoever is guided is only guided for [the benefit of] his soul. And whoever errs only errs against it. And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And never would We punish until We sent a messenger.
أَمْ حَسِبَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱجْتَرَحُوا۟ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ أَن نَّجْعَلَهُمْ كَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ سَوَآءً مَّحْيَاهُمْ وَمَمَاتُهُمْ ۚ سَآءَ مَا يَحْكُمُونَ
Or do those who commit evils think We will make them like those who have believed and done righteous deeds - [make them] equal in their life and their death? Evil is that which they judge [i.e., assume].
وَعَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ حَرَّمْنَا مَا قَصَصْنَا عَلَيْكَ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَمَا ظَلَمْنَـٰهُمْ وَلَـٰكِن كَانُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ
And to those who are Jews We have prohibited that which We related to you before. And We did not wrong them [thereby], but they were wronging themselves.