وَقَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَا عَجِّل لَّنَا قِطَّنَا قَبْلَ يَوْمِ ٱلْحِسَابِ 16
Translations
And they say, "Our Lord, hasten for us our share [of the punishment] before the Day of Account."
Transliteration
Wa qalū Rabbana 'ajjil lanā qiţţanā qabla yawmi al-hisāb
Tafsir (Explanation)
The disbelievers mockingly ask Allah to hasten their punishment in this world rather than wait for the Day of Judgment, demonstrating their arrogance and rejection of the afterlife. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this statement reflects their stubborn denial and contempt for divine warnings; they either believed punishment would not come or sought to challenge Allah's authority. This ayah illustrates how those who reject faith may mock and provoke, yet their challenge ultimately exposes their spiritual blindness and certainty of doom.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Sad, which addresses the Meccan disbelievers' rejection of the Quran and mockery of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The surah presents various examples of how people rejected divine guidance throughout history. This particular verse reflects the defiant attitude of the Quraysh who ridiculed the concept of resurrection and divine punishment.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to Sahih Muslim's hadith where the Prophet said that whoever mocks or challenges Allah's punishment will face swift divine response. Additionally, Sahih Bukhari contains reports of the Prophet's patience against the Quraysh's mockery and their demands for immediate punishment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah warns believers against arrogance and mockery of divine truth, reminding us that those who reject Allah's signs out of pride ultimately hasten their own destruction, while teaching us that patience in faith and belief in the unseen is the mark of true wisdom.