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
قَالَ أَمَّا مَن ظَلَمَ فَسَوْفَ نُعَذِّبُهُۥ ثُمَّ يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ فَيُعَذِّبُهُۥ عَذَابًا نُّكْرًا
He said, "As for one who wrongs, we will punish him. Then he will be returned to his Lord, and He will punish him with a terrible punishment [i.e., Hellfire].
وَلَقَدْ أَهْلَكْنَا ٱلْقُرُونَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَمَّا ظَلَمُوا۟ ۙ وَجَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ لِيُؤْمِنُوا۟ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ
And We had already destroyed generations before you when they wronged, and their messengers had come to them with clear proofs, but they were not to believe. Thus do We recompense the criminal people.
إِنَّا قَدْ أُوحِىَ إِلَيْنَآ أَنَّ ٱلْعَذَابَ عَلَىٰ مَن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ
Indeed, it has been revealed to us that the punishment will be upon whoever denies and turns away.'"
ضَرَبَ لَكُم مَّثَلًا مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ ۖ هَل لَّكُم مِّن مَّا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُكُم مِّن شُرَكَآءَ فِى مَا رَزَقْنَـٰكُمْ فَأَنتُمْ فِيهِ سَوَآءٌ تَخَافُونَهُمْ كَخِيفَتِكُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
He presents to you an example from yourselves. Do you have among those whom your right hands possess [i.e., slaves] any partners in what We have provided for you so that you are equal therein [and] would fear them as your fear of one another [within a partnership]? Thus do We detail the verses for a people who use reason.