وَإِذَا ٱلرُّسُلُ أُقِّتَتْ 11
Translations
And when the messengers' time has come...
Transliteration
Wa-idha ar-rusulu uqqitat
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the Day of Judgment when the messengers will be assigned their appointed time (to testify or be questioned about their nations). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, 'uqqitat' means they will be given a specific time or deadline, indicating the orderly nature of the final judgment where even the greatest messengers will face divine interrogation. This emphasizes that no one, regardless of rank or status, will escape accountability before Allah on the Day of Resurrection.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Mursalat is a Meccan surah that vividly describes scenes from the Day of Judgment to warn the disbelievers of Mecca about the consequences of rejecting the message. This ayah is part of a series of oaths (verses 1-5) followed by descriptions of the Day of Judgment, emphasizing the certainty and solemnity of that inevitable day.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim about the intercession (shafaa'ah) on the Day of Judgment mentions how the messengers will be called forth in order, with each messenger responding when their time comes, reflecting the concept of being 'uqqitat' (appointed a time).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that on the Day of Judgment, accountability is universal and unavoidable—even the most honored prophets will answer before Allah according to His divine plan. It should inspire us to recognize the seriousness of the afterlife and live with greater consciousness of our responsibility to Allah.