فَإِنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ ذَنُوبًا مِّثْلَ ذَنُوبِ أَصْحَـٰبِهِمْ فَلَا يَسْتَعْجِلُونِ 59
Translations
And indeed, for those who have wronged is a portion [of punishment] like the portion of their companions [i.e., predecessors], so let them not impatiently urge Me.
Transliteration
Fa-inna lilladhina dhalamoo dhunooban mithla dhunoobi ashabihim fala yasta'jiloon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah warns that those who commit injustice and transgression will face a punishment similar to that which befell their predecessors who engaged in similar wrongdoing. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that Allah's pattern (sunnah) of dealing with wrongdoers is consistent across generations, and therefore the wrongdoers should not hasten the punishment, as it will certainly come. The phrase 'fala yasta'jiloon' (so let them not hasten) is understood as either a command not to rush toward destruction through continued transgression, or an assurance that they cannot hasten Allah's judgment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Adh-Dhariyat, which emphasizes Allah's sovereignty and the certainty of the Day of Judgment. It follows the theme of previous ayahs recounting the fates of destroyed nations (Aad, Thamud, and Pharaoh's people), establishing the pattern that wrongdoers inevitably face consequences. The context underscores that the Meccan disbelievers should not think themselves exempt from divine punishment.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The similitude of guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth, some of which is fertile soil that absorbs water and brings forth vegetation and herbage in abundance' (Sahih Bukhari 97). This relates thematically to how Allah's law and pattern operate consistently for all people.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that wrongdoing carries inevitable consequences and that no wrongdoer should delude themselves into thinking they can escape divine justice or hasten it away through arrogance. For modern readers, it serves as a reminder that ethical accountability is universal and timeless—the same principles that destroyed previous civilizations apply to all generations, encouraging us toward righteousness and justice.