فَيَأْتِيَهُم بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ 202
Translations
And it will come to them suddenly while they perceive [it] not.
Transliteration
Fa-ya'tiihim baghtatan wa-hum laa yash'uroon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the punishment or consequence of rejecting the message will come upon the disbelievers suddenly and unexpectedly, while they remain unaware and unprepared. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this refers to the Day of Judgment or the worldly punishments that befall those who deny the signs of Allah—they will be seized without warning because they ignored the clear proofs presented to them. The emphasis on their lack of awareness underscores their culpability, as they had every opportunity to heed the warning but chose heedlessness instead.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Ash-Shu'ara, which addresses the Meccan polytheists' rejection of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and their mocking treatment of the message. The surah warns of the fate that befell previous nations who rejected their messengers. This particular ayah contributes to the overarching theme of the surah: those who persist in disbelief will face sudden and inescapable consequences.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The Hour will come when people are in the midst of their transactions, and it will come suddenly upon them' (related to the concept of sudden occurrence in Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim describes how the Day of Judgment will come unexpectedly: 'None of you knows when the Hour will come except Allah.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a powerful reminder that negligence of divine guidance carries real consequences that may arrive without warning, emphasizing the importance of heeding Allah's message while the opportunity exists. For believers, it reinforces the need for constant vigilance in faith and preparedness for the Day of Judgment, which comes when people least expect it.