Surah Al-Kahf (18) — Ayah 55

(Ayah 55) {وَ مَا مَنَعَ النَّاسَ اَنْ يُّؤْمِنُوْۤا …: } This verse can have two meanings, and there are verses supporting both. One meaning is that, despite the messengers bringing clear signs, the only thing that prevented the people from believing and seeking forgiveness was that Allah knew that these people would not believe until Our punishment came upon them in the same way it came upon the previous peoples, such as the people of Nuh, ‘Ad, and Thamud, etc., which uprooted them completely, or until the punishment of the Day of Resurrection came before them, meaning that it was not in their destiny to believe. This is the proposition {’’مَانِعَةُ الْخَلْوِ‘‘}. That is, one of these two things will definitely happen: if they are spared from the punishment in this world like the previous peoples, then the punishment of the Hereafter will surely come before their eyes, and both can also occur together—that is, they may face punishment in this world like the previous peoples and also see the punishment in the Hereafter—but it cannot happen that neither occurs. In support of this meaning, it is said: « اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِمْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُوْنَ (96) وَ لَوْ جَآءَتْهُمْ كُلُّ اٰيَةٍ حَتّٰى يَرَوُا الْعَذَابَ الْاَلِيْمَ » [ یونس : ۹۶، ۹۷ ] “Indeed, those upon whom the word of your Lord has come into effect will not believe, even if every sign comes to them, until they see the painful punishment.” For more verses supporting this meaning, see Yunus (101) and Ma’idah (41).

The second meaning is that what prevented the people from believing and seeking forgiveness was only their demand that a punishment should come upon them like that which uprooted the previous peoples, or that the punishment of the Day of Resurrection should come before their eyes; that is, due to their arrogance, they persisted in this demand, neither believing nor seeking forgiveness for their sins. There are many verses with this meaning, for example, the people of Shu‘ayb (peace be upon him) said, “So cause a piece of the sky to fall upon us, if you should be of the truthful.” (Ash-Shu‘ara: 187) Similarly, the demand of the people of Hud (Al-Ahqaf: 22), the demand of Thamud (Al-A‘raf: 77), the people of Lut (Al-‘Ankabut: 29), the people of Nuh (Hud: 32), and the demand of the polytheists of Makkah (Al-Anfal: 32). The verse accommodates both meanings, and both are correct.

55. 1. That is, in case of denial, they too will be afflicted with punishment in the same way as the people before them were afflicted.
55. 2. That is, the people of Makkah are waiting for either of these two things in order to believe. But these blind of intellect do not realize that after this, faith will have no value, or when will they even get the opportunity to believe after this?

55. And what is there to prevent people, when guidance has come to them, from believing and seeking forgiveness from their Lord, except that they await the fate of those who came before them, or that the punishment [53] should come upon them face to face?

[53] That is, as far as providing proofs is concerned, We have left no stone unturned, and for a seeker of guidance, these proofs are more than sufficient. But these people are not the kind who will come to the right path merely through proofs. Now, all that remains is for them to await the punishment. These stubborn ones will only be set straight after receiving a severe beating. At that time, they will indeed come to know the reality, but then it will be of no benefit to them.