إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْوَقْتِ ٱلْمَعْلُومِ 81
Translations
Until the Day of the time well-known."
Transliteration
Ila yawm al-waqt al-ma'lum
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the respite granted to Iblis (Satan) until the Day of Judgment, the appointed time known only to Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that Allah granted Satan's request for delay in punishment until the Day of Resurrection as a test for humanity, demonstrating divine wisdom in allowing free will and trial in this worldly life. This delay serves as a means for believers to prove their faith through resisting temptation and evil whispers.
Revelation Context
This ayah concludes the dialogue between Allah and Iblis in Surah Sad, where Satan requests respite after his disobedience in refusing to prostrate to Adam. The context is part of the Meccan period's emphasis on tawhid (monotheism), the reality of the afterlife, and Allah's complete control over all affairs, including the timeline of judgment.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'When Allah created the heavens and the earth, Iblis said: By Your might, I will lead all your servants astray except Your sincere slaves.' (Tirmidhi). Also relevant is the hadith about the respite granted to Iblis in various collections discussing the nature of Satan's trial.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that worldly trials and Satan's temptations are divinely permitted tests with a definite end on the Day of Judgment, encouraging patience and reliance on Allah's wisdom rather than despair, and emphasizing the importance of spiritual vigilance during our appointed time on earth.
Related Ayahs
۞ وَقَالَ ٱرْكَبُوا۟ فِيهَا بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ مَجْر۪ىٰهَا وَمُرْسَىٰهَآ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And [Noah] said, "Embark therein; in the name of Allāh [are] its course and its anchorage. Indeed, my Lord is Forgiving and Merciful."
إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا كَمَآءٍ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَٱخْتَلَطَ بِهِۦ نَبَاتُ ٱلْأَرْضِ مِمَّا يَأْكُلُ ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمُ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَخَذَتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ زُخْرُفَهَا وَٱزَّيَّنَتْ وَظَنَّ أَهْلُهَآ أَنَّهُمْ قَـٰدِرُونَ عَلَيْهَآ أَتَىٰهَآ أَمْرُنَا لَيْلًا أَوْ نَهَارًا فَجَعَلْنَـٰهَا حَصِيدًا كَأَن لَّمْ تَغْنَ بِٱلْأَمْسِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
The example of [this] worldly life is but like rain which We have sent down from the sky that the plants of the earth absorb - [those] from which men and livestock eat - until, when the earth has taken on its adornment and is beautified and its people suppose that they have capability over it, there comes to it Our command by night or by day, and We make it as a harvest, as if it had not flourished yesterday. Thus do We explain in detail the signs for a people who give thought.
يَـٰقَوْمِ لَكُمُ ٱلْمُلْكُ ٱلْيَوْمَ ظَـٰهِرِينَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَمَن يَنصُرُنَا مِنۢ بَأْسِ ٱللَّهِ إِن جَآءَنَا ۚ قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ مَآ أُرِيكُمْ إِلَّا مَآ أَرَىٰ وَمَآ أَهْدِيكُمْ إِلَّا سَبِيلَ ٱلرَّشَادِ
O my people, sovereignty is yours today, [your being] dominant in the land. But who would protect us from the punishment of Allāh if it came to us?" Pharaoh said, "I do not show you except what I see, and I do not guide you except to the way of right conduct."
قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ قَدْ جَآءَنَا نَذِيرٌ فَكَذَّبْنَا وَقُلْنَا مَا نَزَّلَ ٱللَّهُ مِن شَىْءٍ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ كَبِيرٍ
They will say, "Yes, a warner had come to us, but we denied and said, 'Allāh has not sent down anything. You are not but in great error.'"