مَا يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا صَيْحَةً وَٰحِدَةً تَأْخُذُهُمْ وَهُمْ يَخِصِّمُونَ 49
Translations
They do not await except one blast which will seize them while they are disputing.
Transliteration
Mā yanthurūn illā sayhatan wāhidatan ta'khudhhum wa hum yakhassimūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the Day of Judgment when the disbelievers will be seized by a single blast (sayhah) while they are engaged in disputes and arguments among themselves. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as referring to the trumpet blast (Israfīl's horn) that will suddenly overtake humanity, catching them unaware in their worldly preoccupations. The mention of their quarreling emphasizes how absorbed they are in trivial earthly matters, heedless of the certainty of the Hour.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Ya-Sin, a Meccan surah focused on warning the disbelievers of the inevitability of the Day of Judgment and resurrection. The broader context discusses how the people of Mecca deny the message of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and mock the concept of resurrection, so this ayah serves as a reminder of the sudden and inescapable nature of divine punishment.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The Hour will come while two men are spreading a garment between them, but they will not be able to fold it, and the Hour will come while a man is carrying food to his mouth but cannot eat it' (Jāmi' at-Tirmidhī 2331). This illustrates the sudden interruption of worldly activities at the Day of Judgment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that worldly disputes and preoccupations should not distract us from remembrance of Allah and preparation for the Hereafter, as the Hour may come suddenly when we least expect it. It calls for constant vigilance, mindfulness of death, and prioritization of spiritual matters over transient earthly concerns.