وَكَأَيِّن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ أَمْلَيْتُ لَهَا وَهِىَ ظَالِمَةٌ ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُهَا وَإِلَىَّ ٱلْمَصِيرُ 48
Translations
And for how many a city did I prolong enjoyment while it was committing wrong. Then I seized it, and to Me is the [final] destination.
Transliteration
Wa-ka-ayyin min qaryatin amlaytu laha wa-hiya zalimah, thumma akhaztuha wa-ilayya al-masir
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah illustrates Allah's patience and forbearance with unjust communities by granting them respite and opportunity to repent, yet when they persist in wrongdoing, He seizes them with punishment. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize that 'Amlaytu' (I gave respite) demonstrates divine mercy, while the eventual seizure ('akhaztuha') shows that Allah's patience is not endless—all people ultimately return to Him for judgment. The ayah serves as a warning that prosperity and delay in punishment should not be mistaken for approval of injustice.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Hajj's broader themes concerning divine judgment and accountability. While no specific asbab al-nuzul is recorded for this particular verse, it fits within the Medinan period's emphasis on warning the polytheists and hypocrites about the consequences of their transgressions, reinforcing the Quranic theme that nations are given opportunities to reform before divine punishment.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to a hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'When Allah intends good for a servant, He hastens his punishment in this world, and when He intends ill for a servant, He withholds his sins from him until he meets Him on the Day of Resurrection.' This illustrates how divine patience and punishment are intertwined with ultimate justice.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Allah's patience with wrongdoers should inspire both hope for repentance and fear of eventual accountability—delay in punishment is not immunity from it. Believers should use periods of respite to reform themselves and their communities, understanding that all affairs ultimately return to Allah's judgment.
Related Ayahs
لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَهُوَ ٱلْغَنِىُّ ٱلْحَمِيدُ
To Him belongs what is in the heavens and what is on the earth. And indeed, Allāh is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy.
وَٱلْبُدْنَ جَعَلْنَـٰهَا لَكُم مِّن شَعَـٰٓئِرِ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ فِيهَا خَيْرٌ ۖ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا صَوَآفَّ ۖ فَإِذَا وَجَبَتْ جُنُوبُهَا فَكُلُوا۟ مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا۟ ٱلْقَانِعَ وَٱلْمُعْتَرَّ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ سَخَّرْنَـٰهَا لَكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
And the camels and cattle We have appointed for you as among the symbols [i.e., rites] of Allāh; for you therein is good. So mention the name of Allāh upon them when lined up [for sacrifice]; and when they are [lifeless] on their sides, then eat from them and feed the needy [who does not seek aid] and the beggar. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may be grateful.
ٱللَّهُ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ فِيمَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ
Allāh will judge between you on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which you used to differ."
لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَنَـٰفِعُ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ثُمَّ مَحِلُّهَآ إِلَى ٱلْبَيْتِ ٱلْعَتِيقِ
For you therein [i.e., the animals marked for sacrifice] are benefits for a specified term; then their place of sacrifice is at the ancient House.