فَهَلْ يَنتَظِرُونَ إِلَّا مِثْلَ أَيَّامِ ٱلَّذِينَ خَلَوْا۟ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ قُلْ فَٱنتَظِرُوٓا۟ إِنِّى مَعَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْمُنتَظِرِينَ 102
Translations
So do they wait except for like [what occurred in] the days of those who passed on before them? Say, "Then wait; indeed, I am with you among those who wait."
Transliteration
Fahal yantaziroon illa mithla ayyami alladheen khalaw min qablihim qul faintaziroo inni maAAakum mina almuntazirin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah challenges the disbelievers of Mecca who reject the message of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) by asking whether they expect anything other than the same kind of punishment that befell the nations before them. The Prophet is commanded to tell them to wait for Allah's punishment, assuring them that he too awaits the outcome with them. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this is a powerful rhetorical device emphasizing the inevitability of divine justice—just as previous peoples who rejected their prophets faced destruction, so too will these disbelievers face consequences if they persist in their rejection.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period of Surah Yunus, which extensively discusses the historical patterns of nations that rejected prophets and the divine punishment that followed. The broader context addresses the Meccan disbelievers' arrogance and their demand for immediate punishment, reflecting their mockery of the Prophet's message.
Related Hadiths
The theme of awaiting Allah's judgment is reflected in the hadith: 'The best deed is to believe in Allah and His Messenger' (Sahih Bukhari 1:1). Additionally, Surah Al-Araf (7:34) relates thematically: 'For every nation is a term appointed; when their term is reached, not an hour can they cause delay, nor can they advance it in anticipation.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that patience in conveying the message of truth and trust in Allah's justice are paramount, even when facing ridicule and rejection. It reminds us that divine justice is inevitable and that the same consequences that befell past nations will apply to those who reject the truth, providing solace to believers enduring persecution.
Related Ayahs
وَإِن كَانَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْأَيْكَةِ لَظَـٰلِمِينَ
And the companions of the thicket [i.e., the people of Madyan] were [also] wrongdoers,
وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى مَنْ أَسْرَفَ وَلَمْ يُؤْمِنۢ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِۦ ۚ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ أَشَدُّ وَأَبْقَىٰٓ
And thus do We recompense he who transgressed and did not believe in the signs of his Lord. And the punishment of the Hereafter is more severe and more enduring.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱشْتَرَوُا۟ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ فَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ
Those are the ones who have bought the life of this world [in exchange] for the Hereafter, so the punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be aided.
۞ وَمَن يَقُلْ مِنْهُمْ إِنِّىٓ إِلَـٰهٌ مِّن دُونِهِۦ فَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِيهِ جَهَنَّمَ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And whoever of them should say, "Indeed, I am a god besides Him" - that one We would recompense with Hell. Thus do We recompense the wrongdoers.