قُل لَّكُم مِّيعَادُ يَوْمٍ لَّا تَسْتَـْٔخِرُونَ عَنْهُ سَاعَةً وَلَا تَسْتَقْدِمُونَ 30
Translations
Say, "For you is the appointment of a Day [when] you will not remain thereafter an hour, nor will you precede [it]."
Transliteration
Qul lakum mi'aadun yawmun laa tastakhiroon 'anhu saa'atan wa laa tastaqdimoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) is commanded to announce to the disbelievers that there is an appointed Day (the Day of Judgment) which they cannot delay by even an hour, nor can they advance it. This ayah emphasizes the absolute certainty and fixed nature of the Day of Judgment, which is beyond human control or manipulation. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note this as a powerful refutation of those who deny or mock the resurrection, asserting that its occurrence is entirely determined by Allah's will and divine decree.
Revelation Context
Surah Saba is a Meccan surah revealed during the period of intense disbelief and mockery from the Quraysh regarding the message of monotheism and the afterlife. This particular ayah addresses the denial of the Day of Judgment, a central theme in Meccan surahs where the disbelievers would mock the concept of resurrection.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The Hour will be established, and none but the Hour will be established' (Sahih Bukhari 4636). Also relevant: 'When Allah intends to create something, He only needs to say to it: 'Be' and it is' (Quran 36:82), emphasizing Allah's absolute power over time and creation.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that despite human illusions of control over time and destiny, all events—especially the Final Hour—are decreed by Allah alone, and we should live with constant awareness of accountability on the Day of Judgment. It encourages believers to abandon false confidence in worldly permanence and prepare spiritually for the inevitable meeting with their Creator.
Related Ayahs
فَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِىَ كِتَـٰبَهُۥ بِيَمِينِهِۦ
Then as for he who is given his record in his right hand,
وَمَا كُنتُمْ تَسْتَتِرُونَ أَن يَشْهَدَ عَلَيْكُمْ سَمْعُكُمْ وَلَآ أَبْصَـٰرُكُمْ وَلَا جُلُودُكُمْ وَلَـٰكِن ظَنَنتُمْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَعْلَمُ كَثِيرًا مِّمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
And you were not covering [i.e., protecting] yourselves, lest your hearing testify against you or your sight or your skins, but you assumed that Allāh does not know much of what you do.
مَا سَلَكَكُمْ فِى سَقَرَ
[And asking them], "What put you into Saqar?"
يَوْمَ لَا يُغْنِى عَنْهُمْ كَيْدُهُمْ شَيْـًٔا وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ
The Day their plan will not avail them at all, nor will they be helped.