Surah Ash-Shura (42) — Ayah 18

(Ayah 18) ➊ The meaning of { يَسْتَعْجِلُ بِهَا الَّذِيْنَ لَا يُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِهَا: ’’اِسْتِعْجَالٌ‘‘} is to demand the bringing of something before its appointed time. When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would warn about the Day of Judgment and its nearness, the disbelievers would demand that it be brought immediately. Their purpose was only to deny the Day of Judgment and to mock it, so that when it would not occur immediately upon their demand, they would reject it and make fun of it, saying that if the Day of Judgment were real, it would have come at our request. However, it will not come at their request, but rather at the appointed time set by Allah, the knowledge of which no one possesses except Him. In this verse, the reason for their audacity is explained: the only reason for their demand is that they do not believe in the Day of Judgment, on which deeds will be accounted for. If they were certain of this, they would never hasten for it, but rather would be concerned with preparing for it.

➋ { وَ الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا مُشْفِقُوْنَ مِنْهَا …:} That is, in contrast to the deniers of the Day of Judgment, those who believe in it are always greatly fearful that death may come at any moment and end their opportunity for action, and then, when the Great Resurrection is established, what will be their state at the time of reckoning. (See Anbiya: 49; Nur: 37; Dahr: 7) Because they are certain that it will definitely occur.

➌ The meaning of { اَلَاۤ اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ يُمَارُوْنَ فِي السَّاعَةِ لَفِيْ ضَلٰلٍۭ بَعِيْدٍ: ’’ يُمَارُوْنَ ‘‘} is both "they doubt" and "they dispute." That is, if a person is certain about the Day of Judgment, he fears Allah and, when the truth becomes clear, he accepts it. But one who doubts its coming and keeps disputing about it will consider faith and righteous deeds to be useless, and due to the absence of fear of accountability, he will be bold in every sin and will not refrain from even the greatest of injustices. Such people have gone far astray from the right path, from where their return is not possible. In {’’ ضَلٰلٍۭ بَعِيْدٍ ‘‘}, it is also included that they have gone so far from the straight path that their eyes will only be opened on the Day of Judgment, when returning will no longer be possible. See Surah Saba (51 to 54).

18. 1. That is, as a mockery, thinking that how could it possibly come? That is why they say that the Hour should come soon.

18. 2. Because they do not reflect on those evidences which could lead them to faith, even though these evidences come before their eyes day and night. They pass before their sight and could enter their understanding and intellect. That is why they have gone very far from the truth.

Those who do not believe in it seek to hasten it, but those who believe are fearful [28] of it and know that it is the truth. Beware! Indeed, those who dispute concerning the Hour have gone far astray.

[28] That is, those who mock the punishment of the Hereafter and the Day of Resurrection, and repeatedly ask when it will come, do so only because they do not believe in the Day of Resurrection and the reckoning of deeds. If they were certain of this, they would never hasten for the punishment. And those who do believe in the Day of Resurrection and the accountability of deeds, they remain fearful of their own reckoning. And those who do not believe have no fear of being held accountable for their deeds, so they become bold in sinful acts and, deviating from the path of truth and justice, go far ahead in their rebellion and misguidance.