وَإِمَّا نُرِيَنَّكَ بَعْضَ ٱلَّذِى نَعِدُهُمْ أَوْ نَتَوَفَّيَنَّكَ فَإِلَيْنَا مَرْجِعُهُمْ ثُمَّ ٱللَّهُ شَهِيدٌ عَلَىٰ مَا يَفْعَلُونَ 46
Translations
And whether We show you some of what We promise them, [O Muḥammad], or We take you in death, to Us is their return; then, [either way], Allāh is a witness concerning what they are doing.
Transliteration
Wa-imma nuriyannaka ba'da allathi na'iduhum aw natawaffaynnak fa-ilaina marji'uhum thumma Allahu shahidun 'ala ma yaf'alun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) regarding the fulfillment of Allah's promises to the disbelievers—whether he witnesses the punishment in this life or is taken before it occurs, the final return of all people is to Allah alone. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that this establishes Allah's ultimate authority and knowledge of all deeds, emphasizing that the delay in punishment does not negate its certainty, and that Allah is the All-Seeing witness over all human actions.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Mecca during a period when the Quraysh persistently denied the Prophet's message and demanded immediate proof of threatened punishment. This ayah reassures the Prophet that whether he lives to see the fulfillment of warnings or not, accountability on the Day of Judgment is certain, placing the burden of divine justice with Allah rather than on the temporal witnessing of earthly consequences.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari reports the hadith on the seven categories of people shaded on the Day of Judgment, affirming that Allah is aware of and will judge all deeds. Additionally, Surah 13:40 contains a related statement: 'Whether We show you [O Muhammad] some of what We have promised them or take you in death, to Us is their return,' emphasizing the same theme of ultimate divine accountability.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should find comfort in the certainty that Allah witnesses all actions and will bring perfect justice on the Day of Judgment, regardless of apparent delays in worldly consequences. This fosters patience, trust in divine wisdom, and ethical behavior rooted in accountability before Allah rather than fear of human consequences alone.