وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَـٰذَا ٱلْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ 48
Translations
And they say, "When is [the fulfillment of] this promise, if you should be truthful?"
Transliteration
Wa yaquluna mataa hadha al-wa'd in kuntum sadiqin
Tafsir (Explanation)
The disbelievers mockingly challenge the Prophet Muhammad and the believers, demanding to know when the promised Day of Judgment will come, sarcastically suggesting that if the Muslims are truthful about this promise, they should provide evidence of its timing. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain that this ayah reflects the arrogance and denial of the Meccan disbelievers who rejected the message of monotheism and the certainty of the Hereafter, treating divine warnings with ridicule and defiance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan portion of Surah Yunus, which addresses the persistent mockery and denial faced by Prophet Muhammad from the Quraysh. The surah's broader context deals with how disbelievers continuously demand signs and ridicule the message of Tawhid and the afterlife, remaining obstinate despite clear evidence presented to them.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The Hour will be established, but I do not know when it will be' (Sahih Muslim 2953). Additionally, Surah Yunus 49 immediately follows with Allah's response that only He knows the unseen, reinforcing that knowledge of the Hour belongs exclusively to Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that ridicule from disbelievers is a test of faith, not evidence against the truth—certainty about divine promises does not depend on the skepticism of others. We should remain steadfast in our conviction of the Hereafter despite worldly mockery and remember that the timing of major divine events is known only to Allah.
Related Ayahs
۞ وَلَوْ يُعَجِّلُ ٱللَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ ٱلشَّرَّ ٱسْتِعْجَالَهُم بِٱلْخَيْرِ لَقُضِىَ إِلَيْهِمْ أَجَلُهُمْ ۖ فَنَذَرُ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ لِقَآءَنَا فِى طُغْيَـٰنِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ
And if Allāh was to hasten for the people the evil [they invoke] as He hastens for them the good, their term would have been ended for them. But We leave the ones who do not expect the meeting with Us, in their transgression, wandering blindly.
۞ لِّلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا۟ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ وَزِيَادَةٌ ۖ وَلَا يَرْهَقُ وُجُوهَهُمْ قَتَرٌ وَلَا ذِلَّةٌ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
For them who have done good is the best [reward] - and extra. No darkness will cover their faces, nor humiliation. Those are companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally.
ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَا مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ رُسُلًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِمْ فَجَآءُوهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ فَمَا كَانُوا۟ لِيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِمَا كَذَّبُوا۟ بِهِۦ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَطْبَعُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِ ٱلْمُعْتَدِينَ
Then We sent after him messengers to their peoples, and they came to them with clear proofs. But they were not to believe in that which they had denied before. Thus We seal over the hearts of the transgressors.
قُل لَّوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا تَلَوْتُهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَآ أَدْرَىٰكُم بِهِۦ ۖ فَقَدْ لَبِثْتُ فِيكُمْ عُمُرًا مِّن قَبْلِهِۦٓ ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ
Say, "If Allāh had willed, I would not have recited it to you, nor would He have made it known to you, for I had remained among you a lifetime before it. Then will you not reason?"