أَفَأَمِنُوٓا۟ أَن تَأْتِيَهُمْ غَـٰشِيَةٌ مِّنْ عَذَابِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْ تَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ 107
Translations
Then do they feel secure that there will not come to them an overwhelming [aspect] of the punishment of Allāh or that the Hour will not come upon them suddenly while they do not perceive?
Transliteration
Afa-aminoo an ta'tiyhim ghashiyatun min adhabi-llahi aw ta'tiyhumu-s-sa'atu baghtatan wa-hum la yash'uroon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah warns the disbelievers against false security, asking rhetorically whether they feel safe from the punishment of Allah or from the sudden coming of the Hour (Day of Judgment) while they are unaware. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this is a powerful rebuke to those who deny the signs of Allah and live heedlessly, thinking themselves protected from divine punishment. The word 'ghashiyah' (overwhelming calamity) refers to the all-encompassing punishment that envelops those who reject faith, while the sudden arrival of the Hour emphasizes the unpredictability of divine judgment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Yusuf, a Meccan chapter dealing with themes of patience, faith, and divine providence through the story of Prophet Yusuf. The broader context addresses the disbelievers' rejection of the Quran and their complacency regarding the afterlife, serving as a warning to those who ignore the message of Allah's messengers.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The Hour will come when people least expect it and are most heedless.' (Tirmidhi) Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet warned: 'None of you should wish for death; for if he is a doer of good deeds, he might increase his good deeds, and if he is a sinner, he might repent.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers to remain conscious of Allah's judgment and never become complacent in faith, recognizing that both worldly punishment and the Day of Judgment can come unexpectedly. The spiritual lesson encourages constant vigilance, repentance, and readiness for accountability before Allah, rather than living in false security or denial of divine consequences.