وَيَسْتَعْجِلُونَكَ بِٱلْعَذَابِ ۚ وَلَوْلَآ أَجَلٌ مُّسَمًّى لَّجَآءَهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَيَأْتِيَنَّهُم بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ 53
Translations
And they urge you to hasten the punishment. And if not for [the decree of] a specified term, punishment would have reached them. But it will surely come to them suddenly while they perceive not.
Transliteration
Wa yasta'jilūnaka bil-'adhāb. Wa law lā ajalun musammun la-jā'ahum ul-'adhāb. Wa la-ya'tiyannuhum baghtatan wa hum lā yash'urūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
The disbelievers urge the Prophet (ﷺ) to bring down Allah's punishment upon them, either out of mockery or false confidence in their security. However, Allah has appointed a specific term for this punishment, and were it not for this divine decree, the torment would have already come upon them. The punishment will certainly arrive suddenly while they are unaware, catching them by surprise when they least expect it. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this reflects Allah's mercy in delaying punishment and His perfect wisdom in appointing specific times for His decree.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Al-'Ankabut, which addresses the mockery and arrogance of the Quraysh toward the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). The broader context of the surah deals with testing, trials, and the patience required of believers. This specific verse responds to the Quraysh's taunting demands for immediate punishment, a common theme in Meccan revelations.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned that Allah respites the wrongdoer until they commit irredeemable wrongs. Additionally, Surah Al-A'raf 7:111 contains similar themes of mockers asking for punishment. The broader principle is found in numerous ahadith about Allah's forbearance (hilm) and the appointed term (ajal) for each soul.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Divine punishment is not delayed due to weakness but according to Allah's perfect wisdom and appointed decree; mockers and wrongdoers should not mistake patience for inability. For believers, it reinforces trust in Allah's ultimate justice and the certainty that no wrongdoing escapes His knowledge, encouraging patience and reliance on His timing rather than seeking vengeance.
Related Ayahs
يُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرْحَمُ مَن يَشَآءُ ۖ وَإِلَيْهِ تُقْلَبُونَ
He punishes whom He wills and has mercy upon whom He wills, and to Him you will be returned.
وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّاسَ بِمَا كَسَبُوا۟ مَا تَرَكَ عَلَىٰ ظَهْرِهَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ وَلَـٰكِن يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِعِبَادِهِۦ بَصِيرًۢا
And if Allāh were to impose blame on the people for what they have earned, He would not leave upon it [i.e., the earth] any creature. But He defers them for a specified term. And when their time comes, then indeed Allāh has ever been, of His servants, Seeing.
وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
And indeed, your Lord - He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.
وَمَا كَانَ ٱلنَّاسُ إِلَّآ أُمَّةً وَٰحِدَةً فَٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ ۚ وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةٌ سَبَقَتْ مِن رَّبِّكَ لَقُضِىَ بَيْنَهُمْ فِيمَا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ
And mankind was not but one community [united in religion], but [then] they differed. And if not for a word that preceded from your Lord, it would have been judged between them [immediately] concerning that over which they differ.