وَمَا يَنظُرُ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ إِلَّا صَيْحَةً وَٰحِدَةً مَّا لَهَا مِن فَوَاقٍ 15
Translations
And these [disbelievers] await not but one blast [of the Horn]; for it there will be no delay.
Transliteration
Wa mā yanzuru hāʾulāʾi illā sayhatan wāhidatan mā lahā min fawāq
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah warns the disbelievers of Mecca that they await nothing but a single blast of the trumpet on the Day of Judgment, which will come without any delay or respite. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the 'single cry' (sayhah wāhidah) refers to the trumpet blast on the Day of Resurrection, and 'fawāq' (gaps or intervals) emphasizes that there will be no breaks or postponement—it will come suddenly and inevitably. This serves as a stern warning to those who deny the Hereafter and mock the message of the Prophet.
Revelation Context
Surah Sad is a Meccan chapter that addresses the stubbornness and rejection of the Quraysh polytheists. This ayah appears in a section rebuking those who deny resurrection and the Day of Judgment. The context emphasizes that despite the clear signs and warnings presented throughout the Quran, the disbelievers remain unmoved, expecting nothing and therefore unprepared for the inevitable reality of the Hour.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) said: 'The trumpet will be blown twice: first, a blast that will cause all in the heavens and earth to swoon except whom Allah wills, and second, a blast that will resurrect all the dead.' (Sahih Muslim 2782). Additionally, 'The Day of Judgment will come suddenly upon you like the twinkling of an eye' relates to the unexpectedness emphasized in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that the Hour is inevitable and will arrive without warning or delay, serving as a call to spiritual readiness and living with consciousness of accountability before Allah. For modern readers, it emphasizes the importance of not postponing repentance or good deeds, as the opportunity to do so may not last forever.