وَقَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِهِۦ وَأَنَّىٰ لَهُمُ ٱلتَّنَاوُشُ مِن مَّكَانٍۭ بَعِيدٍ 52
Translations
And they will [then] say, "We believe in it!" But how for them will be the taking [of faith] from a place far away?
Transliteration
Wa qalū āmannā bihī wa annā lahumu al-tanāwushu min makānin baʿīd
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the regretful declaration of disbelievers on the Day of Judgment when they claim belief in Allah and His signs, yet their faith comes too late and from a distance—when they can no longer benefit from it. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain that 'al-tanawush min makānin baʿīd' (reaching/grasping from a far place) refers to their inability to return to the worldly life to perform righteous deeds, as the barrier between this life and the afterlife is now insurmountable. The ayah emphasizes the futility of deathbed repentance and belief that arrives only when the soul is departing or has already departed.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Saba, a Meccan surah dealing with themes of resurrection, accountability, and the fate of disbelievers. It contextually follows descriptions of the Day of Judgment and precedes further warnings about the consequences of rejecting faith during one's lifetime. The surah addresses the Meccan polytheists who postponed belief and repentance.
Related Hadiths
The ayah relates to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'When the soul reaches the collarbone (at the time of death), it will no longer be accepted to repent.' This emphasizes that belief after this point is rejected, aligning with the ayah's message about the impossibility of true repentance in the afterlife.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a powerful reminder that faith and repentance must be pursued during one's lifetime when deeds are still accepted; waiting until death approaches or until witnessing the signs of the afterlife renders belief meaningless and devoid of benefit, emphasizing the urgency of sincere worship today.