أَثُمَّ إِذَا مَا وَقَعَ ءَامَنتُم بِهِۦٓ ۚ ءَآلْـَٔـٰنَ وَقَدْ كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ 51
Translations
Then is it that when it has [actually] occurred you will believe in it? Now? And you were [once] for it impatient.
Transliteration
A-thumma idhā mā waqa'a āmantum bih? Āl-āna wa-qad kuntum bih tastajilūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah reproaches the disbelievers for their sudden belief only after the punishment has already befallen them, despite their previous mockery and demands for the torment to come quickly. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain that this refers to the Meccan idolaters who rejected the Prophet's warnings and hastily demanded proof through divine punishment, yet when it arrived (or was about to arrive), their belief became futile because they had delayed their repentance. The ayah emphasizes that belief after witnessing the punishment is worthless, as it comes too late for salvation.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Yunus (a Meccan chapter), which addresses the themes of divine signs, punishment for the rejectors, and the believers' patience. The broader context discusses how the disbelievers mockingly demanded swift punishment from Allah, not truly believing in its reality, mirroring the attitudes of Pharaoh's people and other ancient nations destroyed for their arrogance.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim record that the Prophet (ﷺ) warned about deferred repentance, stating that Allah accepts the repentance of a person as long as the soul has not reached the throat (i.e., before death arrives). This principle aligns with the ayah's message that belief after witnessing punishment is rejected.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should seize the opportunity to repent and believe in Allah's message while they still have time in this life, rather than waiting for signs of punishment—for belief at that moment brings no salvation. This teaches us the importance of heeding warnings promptly and maintaining sincere faith before it is eternally too late.
Related Ayahs
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مَأْوَىٰهُمُ ٱلنَّارُ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ
For those their refuge will be the Fire because of what they used to earn.
فَلَمَّا جَآءَ ٱلسَّحَرَةُ قَالَ لَهُم مُّوسَىٰٓ أَلْقُوا۟ مَآ أَنتُم مُّلْقُونَ
So when the magicians came, Moses said to them, "Throw down whatever you will throw."
۞ وَٱتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ نُوحٍ إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِۦ يَـٰقَوْمِ إِن كَانَ كَبُرَ عَلَيْكُم مَّقَامِى وَتَذْكِيرِى بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ فَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ فَأَجْمِعُوٓا۟ أَمْرَكُمْ وَشُرَكَآءَكُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُنْ أَمْرُكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ غُمَّةً ثُمَّ ٱقْضُوٓا۟ إِلَىَّ وَلَا تُنظِرُونِ
And recite to them the news of Noah, when he said to his people, "O my people, if my residence and my reminding of the signs of Allāh has become burdensome upon you - then I have relied upon Allāh. So resolve upon your plan and [call upon] your associates. Then let not your plan be obscure to you. Then carry it out upon me and do not give me respite.
فَلَمَّآ أَنجَىٰهُمْ إِذَا هُمْ يَبْغُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ ٱلْحَقِّ ۗ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّمَا بَغْيُكُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُم ۖ مَّتَـٰعَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيْنَا مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَنُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
But when He saves them, at once they commit injustice upon the earth without right. O mankind, your injustice is only against yourselves, [being merely] the enjoyment of worldly life. Then to Us is your return, and We will inform you of what you used to do.