Surah Ad-Dukhaan (44) — Ayah 9

(Ayah 9) {بَلْ هُمْ فِيْ شَكٍّ يَّلْعَبُوْنَ:} In this brief phrase, a great reality has been indicated. Whether atheists or polytheists, all of them, from time to time, experience such moments when their hearts from within tell them that there is some flaw somewhere in what they have believed. No matter how staunch an atheist may appear in his denial of God, at some point his heart testifies that from a speck of dust to the galaxies, and from a blade of grass to the creation of man, this astonishing and wisdom-filled system cannot come into existence without a Wise Creator. Similarly, a polytheist, no matter how deeply immersed he is in his polytheism, at some time his heart also cries out that those whom I have taken as deities cannot be God. But the result of this inner testimony is neither that they attain certainty in the existence of God and His oneness, nor that they achieve complete certainty and satisfaction in their polytheism and atheism. Instead, their religion is in fact based on doubt, no matter how intensely they display conviction in it. Now, as for the question of why they do not seriously seek the truth so that they may escape the restlessness of doubt and enjoy the peace of certainty and satisfaction, the answer is that it is seriousness in matters of religion that they lack. In their view, the real importance is only in the earnings of the world and its pleasures, for which they expend all the powers of their hearts, minds, and bodies. As for religious matters, in reality, for them, these are nothing but a game, an amusement, and a mental luxury, on which they cannot spend even a few moments with seriousness. If there are religious rituals, they are performed as a pastime; if there are debates of denial and atheism, they are conducted as a pastime. Who among them has so much leisure from worldly occupations to sit and think whether we are deviating from the truth, and if we are deviating from the truth, what will be its outcome? (Tafheem-ul-Quran with slight adaptation)

9. 1 That is, the truth and its proofs have come before them. But instead of believing in it, they are caught in doubt, and with this doubt, they are engaged in mockery and play.

9. Yet they are in doubt [7] about it, playing around.

[7] There are two aspects to this doubt. One is that they are also doubtful about the very premise of this matter. Merely in imitation of their forefathers, they say that Allah Almighty created the heavens and the earth. They are not fully convinced of this either. Therefore, the result of this premise is also doubtful in their eyes, and they consider all these matters to be nothing but play and amusement. The second meaning is that, even though they loudly claim that there is no such thing as the Day of Judgment and the Hereafter, and that we will not be resurrected after death, yet in their hearts this doubt remains that if the belief in the Day of Judgment turns out to be true, then they will be doomed. Thus, they are caught in doubt and suspicion from both sides. They are not certain about anything. And those who make statements and mock about the Day of Judgment do all this merely as a pastime and amusement.