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
يَصْلَوْنَهَا يَوْمَ ٱلدِّينِ
They will [enter to] burn therein on the Day of Recompense,
لَا تُبْقِى وَلَا تَذَرُ
It lets nothing remain and leaves nothing [unburned],
قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ حَقَّ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْقَوْلُ رَبَّنَا هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ ٱلَّذِينَ أَغْوَيْنَآ أَغْوَيْنَـٰهُمْ كَمَا غَوَيْنَا ۖ تَبَرَّأْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ۖ مَا كَانُوٓا۟ إِيَّانَا يَعْبُدُونَ
Those upon whom the word will have come into effect will say, "Our Lord, these are the ones we led to error. We led them to error just as we were in error. We declare our disassociation [from them] to You. They did not used to worship [i.e., obey] us."
۞ وَإِذَا صُرِفَتْ أَبْصَـٰرُهُمْ تِلْقَآءَ أَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلنَّارِ قَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَا لَا تَجْعَلْنَا مَعَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And when their eyes are turned toward the companions of the Fire, they say, "Our Lord, do not place us with the wrongdoing people."