أَفَأَمِنَ أَهْلُ ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ أَن يَأْتِيَهُم بَأْسُنَا بَيَـٰتًا وَهُمْ نَآئِمُونَ 97
Translations
Then, did the people of the cities feel secure from Our punishment coming to them at night while they were asleep?
Transliteration
Afa-amina ahlu al-qura an ya'tiahum ba'suna bayatan wa-hum na'imun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah poses a rhetorical question to the disbelievers, warning them against false security by asking if they feel safe from Allah's punishment coming upon them suddenly at night while they sleep. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as a stern admonition against arrogance and heedlessness, emphasizing that Divine punishment can strike unexpectedly regardless of one's perceived safety or power. The ayah serves as a reminder that security from Allah's wrath is not guaranteed to those who persist in disbelief and disobedience.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within a broader passage (7:97-99) discussing the false sense of security that communities develop before facing Divine punishment. The surah, revealed in Mecca during a period of intense opposition to the Prophet Muhammad, uses historical examples of destroyed civilizations to warn the Quraysh and other disbelievers about the consequences of rejecting Allah's message. The specific context addresses how previous nations were destroyed while in their heedlessness.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) warned: 'None of you should wish for death, for if he is a doer of good, he may increase in good, and if he is a wrongdoer, he may repent' (Sahih Bukhari 5291). Additionally, the hadith about the Angel of Death coming unexpectedly (found in various collections) reinforces the theme of sudden accountability.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that no human is guaranteed safety from Divine punishment through worldly power or comfort, and that true security lies only in righteous conduct and sincere faith. It serves as a sobering reminder for believers to remain vigilant in their obedience, avoid complacency in worship, and recognize that accountability can come at any moment.