وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَـٰفِلًا عَمَّا يَعْمَلُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ لِيَوْمٍ تَشْخَصُ فِيهِ ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرُ 42
Translations
And never think that Allāh is unaware of what the wrongdoers do. He only delays them [i.e., their account] for a Day when eyes will stare [in horror].
Transliteration
Wa laa tahsabanna Allaha ghaafilenan amma ya'malu az-zaalimoon. Innama yu'akhkhiruhum li-yawmin tashkhasu feehi al-absaar.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah warns believers not to think that Allah is heedless of the wrongdoings of the oppressors and transgressors. Rather, Allah delays their punishment in this world as a test and warning, reserving for them a Day of Judgment when all eyes will be fixed in horror and terror—a vivid description of the Day of Resurrection when the reality of divine justice will manifest. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that Allah's delay is not indifference but wisdom, as it provides opportunity for repentance while maintaining the certainty of ultimate accountability.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ibrahim, revealed in Mecca during a period of intense persecution of Muslims by the Meccan polytheists. It directly addresses the believers' anxiety about why Allah permitted the oppressors to prosper temporarily, reassuring them that divine justice is certain and will be fully realized on the Day of Judgment. The surah's broader theme concerns the stories of prophets and their peoples, emphasizing Allah's ultimate authority and the inevitable consequences of disbelief.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'When Allah intends good for His servant, He hastens his punishment in this world, and when He intends evil for His servant, He withholds his sin until he meets Him on the Day of Resurrection.' This illustrates the wisdom behind Allah's timing of punishment.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should never despair when witnessing the apparent success of wrongdoers in this fleeting world, as Allah's justice is absolute and will be fully executed on the Day of Judgment. This ayah encourages patience, trust in Allah's divine plan, and the assurance that no injustice—however concealed—escapes Allah's knowledge or ultimate reckoning.
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.
لَا يَصْلَىٰهَآ إِلَّا ٱلْأَشْقَى
None will [enter to] burn therein except the most wretched one
وَأَشْرَقَتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ بِنُورِ رَبِّهَا وَوُضِعَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ وَجِا۟ىٓءَ بِٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ وَٱلشُّهَدَآءِ وَقُضِىَ بَيْنَهُم بِٱلْحَقِّ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
And the earth will shine with the light of its Lord, and the record [of deeds] will be placed, and the prophets and the witnesses will be brought, and it will be judged between them in truth, and they will not be wronged.
ٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Know that Allāh is severe in penalty and that Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.