نُمَتِّعُهُمْ قَلِيلًا ثُمَّ نَضْطَرُّهُمْ إِلَىٰ عَذَابٍ غَلِيظٍ 24
Translations
We grant them enjoyment for a little; then We will force them to a massive punishment.
Transliteration
Numattiʿuhum qalīlan thumma naḍṭarruhum ilā ʿadhābin ghalīẓ
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the disbelievers who are given a brief respite and worldly enjoyment in this life, after which Allah will compel them toward a severe punishment in the Hereafter. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this temporary provision is not a sign of Allah's pleasure, but rather a trial and a delay before the inevitable punishment, reflecting the principle mentioned in Surah Al-Aʿraf (7:111) that Allah gives respite to the wrongdoers only to increase them in sin and their punishment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Luqman's broader context of moral instruction and warnings about disbelief. The surah addresses the consequences of rejecting faith and guidance, and this verse specifically illustrates the temporal nature of worldly comfort for those who turn away from Allah's signs. It serves as a reminder to the believers that material prosperity in this world is not indicative of spiritual success.
Related Hadiths
Related to the concept of respite given to disbelievers: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'Do not consider the forbearance of Allah as weakness, for indeed when Allah gives respite, He does so only to seize (the wrongdoer) with punishment' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim about the respite given before punishment: 'Verily, the most despised person to Allah is the one who is given respite but does not repent.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers not to be deceived by the apparent prosperity of those who reject faith, as temporary material comfort is meaningless compared to eternal consequences. It encourages reflection on priorities: pursuing worldly gain at the expense of spiritual truth leads to irreversible loss in the afterlife.
Related Ayahs
وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ذُو ٱلرَّحْمَةِ ۖ لَوْ يُؤَاخِذُهُم بِمَا كَسَبُوا۟ لَعَجَّلَ لَهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابَ ۚ بَل لَّهُم مَّوْعِدٌ لَّن يَجِدُوا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦ مَوْئِلًا
And your Lord is the Forgiving, the possessor of mercy. If He were to impose blame upon them for what they earned, He would have hastened for them the punishment. Rather, for them is an appointment from which they will never find an escape.
لَا جَرَمَ أَنَّهُمْ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ هُمُ ٱلْأَخْسَرُونَ
Assuredly, it is they in the Hereafter who will be the greatest losers.
وَسِيقَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ رَبَّهُمْ إِلَى ٱلْجَنَّةِ زُمَرًا ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُوهَا وَفُتِحَتْ أَبْوَٰبُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا سَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ طِبْتُمْ فَٱدْخُلُوهَا خَـٰلِدِينَ
But those who feared their Lord will be driven to Paradise in groups until, when they reach it while its gates have been opened and its keepers say, "Peace be upon you; you have become pure; so enter it to abide eternally therein," [they will enter].
وَقُلِ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ سَيُرِيكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ فَتَعْرِفُونَهَا ۚ وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
And say, "[All] praise is [due] to Allāh. He will show you His signs, and you will recognize them. And your Lord is not unaware of what you do."