وَلَئِنْ أَخَّرْنَا عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابَ إِلَىٰٓ أُمَّةٍ مَّعْدُودَةٍ لَّيَقُولُنَّ مَا يَحْبِسُهُۥٓ ۗ أَلَا يَوْمَ يَأْتِيهِمْ لَيْسَ مَصْرُوفًا عَنْهُمْ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ 8
Translations
And if We hold back from them the punishment for a limited time, they will surely say, "What detains it?" Unquestionably, on the Day it comes to them, it will not be averted from them, and they will be enveloped by what they used to ridicule.
Transliteration
Wa la'in akhkharna 'anhumu al-'adhaba ilá ummatin ma'dudatin layaqulunna má yahbisuh. Alá yawma ya'tihim laysa masrúfan 'anhum wa háqa bihim má kánú bihi yastahzi'ún.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah warns that when Allah delays punishment from disbelievers for a limited, numbered period, they arrogantly ask what is holding back the torment, dismissing the threat. When the Day of Judgment comes, the punishment will be inescapable and irreversible, and they will be overtaken by the very punishment they mocked and ridiculed. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize this as a stern warning about the consequences of arrogance and mockery toward divine threats, showing that delay in punishment is not a sign of its absence but rather a test of faith.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Hud, a Meccan chapter addressing the Quraysh's rejection and mockery of the Prophet Muhammad's warnings about the Day of Judgment. The disbelievers' arrogant questioning—"What delays the punishment?"—reflects their contempt for the message and their false sense of security, which the ayah directly refutes.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The example of those who were given the Qur'an and did not act upon it is like an empty house with a beautiful door' (Al-Tirmidhi). Additionally, Sahih Muslim records that the Prophet warned of those who hear the message but turn away, similar to the mockery described in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should never confuse Allah's patience and delay in punishment with approval or forgiveness; rather, it is a test and opportunity for repentance. We must take seriously the warnings about the afterlife and avoid arrogance or mockery toward faith, as the consequences are inescapable when the appointed time arrives.
Related Ayahs
مَآ ءَامَنَتْ قَبْلَهُم مِّن قَرْيَةٍ أَهْلَكْنَـٰهَآ ۖ أَفَهُمْ يُؤْمِنُونَ
Not a [single] city which We destroyed believed before them, so will they believe?
فَقَدْ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِٱلْحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ ۖ فَسَوْفَ يَأْتِيهِمْ أَنۢبَـٰٓؤُا۟ مَا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ
For they had denied the truth when it came to them, but there is going to reach them the news of what they used to ridicule.
مَتَـٰعٌ قَلِيلٌ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
[It is but] a brief enjoyment, and they will have a painful punishment.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تُحِلُّوا۟ شَعَـٰٓئِرَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا ٱلشَّهْرَ ٱلْحَرَامَ وَلَا ٱلْهَدْىَ وَلَا ٱلْقَلَـٰٓئِدَ وَلَآ ءَآمِّينَ ٱلْبَيْتَ ٱلْحَرَامَ يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرِضْوَٰنًا ۚ وَإِذَا حَلَلْتُمْ فَٱصْطَادُوا۟ ۚ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَـَٔانُ قَوْمٍ أَن صَدُّوكُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ أَن تَعْتَدُوا۟ ۘ وَتَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ
O you who have believed, do not violate the rites of Allāh or [the sanctity of] the sacred month or [neglect the marking of] the sacrificial animals and garlanding [them] or [violate the safety of] those coming to the Sacred House seeking bounty from their Lord and [His] approval. But when you come out of iḥrām, then [you may] hunt. And do not let the hatred of a people for having obstructed you from al-Masjid al-Ḥarām lead you to transgress. And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allāh; indeed, Allāh is severe in penalty.