يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلسَّاعَةِ أَيَّانَ مُرْسَىٰهَا ۖ قُلْ إِنَّمَا عِلْمُهَا عِندَ رَبِّى ۖ لَا يُجَلِّيهَا لِوَقْتِهَآ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ ثَقُلَتْ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ لَا تَأْتِيكُمْ إِلَّا بَغْتَةً ۗ يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ كَأَنَّكَ حَفِىٌّ عَنْهَا ۖ قُلْ إِنَّمَا عِلْمُهَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ 187
Translations
They ask you, [O Muḥammad], about the Hour: when is its arrival? Say, "Its knowledge is only with my Lord. None will reveal its time except Him. It lays heavily upon the heavens and the earth. It will not come upon you except unexpectedly." They ask you as if you are familiar with it. Say, "Its knowledge is only with Allāh, but most of the people do not know."
Transliteration
Yas'alūnaka 'anis-sā'ati ayyāna mursāhā. Qul innamā 'ilmuhā 'inda rabbī. Lā yujallīhā liwaqtihā illā huwa. Thaqulat fī s-samāwāti wa-l-ardi. Lā ta'tīkum illā baghtatan. Yas'alūnaka ka-annaka hafiyyun 'anhā. Qul innamā 'ilmuhā 'indallāhi wa-lākinna akthara n-nāsi lā ya'lamūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the Meccan disbelievers' persistent questioning about when the Hour (Day of Judgment) will occur—knowledge that belongs exclusively to Allah alone. The Prophet (ﷺ) is commanded to emphasize that only Allah knows its exact timing, and He reveals it to no one; the Hour will come suddenly and unexpectedly, weighing heavily upon the heavens and earth. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that this ayah establishes the principle that belief in the unseen (ghayb) is fundamental to faith, and that the certainty of the Hour's occurrence is more important than knowing its time, which Allah has withheld from all creation.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Mecca during the period when the Quraysh frequently challenged the Prophet (ﷺ) about the veracity of his message by demanding specific details about eschatological events. The ayah addresses the broader Meccan context of skepticism toward the message of tawhid and the resurrection, emphasizing that certain knowledge remains exclusively with Allah (7:187-189).
Related Hadiths
Hadith from Sahih Muslim (2967): The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'Five things are known only to Allah: the Hour, what is in the wombs, what the soul will earn tomorrow, when rain will fall, and in what land a person will die.' Also, Sahih Bukhari (4670) records that the Prophet (ﷺ) stated the Hour will come when people least expect it.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims should focus on preparing for the inevitable Day of Judgment through righteous deeds rather than becoming preoccupied with determining its exact timing, recognizing that Allah's wisdom in withholding this knowledge is a test of faith and a means to encourage constant readiness and moral consciousness.