Surah Al-A'raaf (7) — Ayah 187

(Ayah 187) ➊ {يَسْـَٔلُوْنَكَ عَنِ السَّاعَةِ اَيَّانَ مُرْسٰىهَا: ’’ السَّاعَةِ ‘‘} means an hour, moment, instant, or second, because the Resurrection will occur suddenly in a single moment. {’’ اَيَّانَ ‘‘} The more authentic view is that {’’اَيٌّ ‘‘} is derived from the pattern of {’’فَعْلَانَ‘‘}, a temporal adverb meaning {’’مَتٰي‘‘}, i.e., when. {’’ مُرْسٰىهَا ‘‘} This {’’اَرْسٰي يُرْسِيْ‘‘} is a verbal noun from the form "af‘al," and is used both transitively and intransitively. Most often, it refers to something very heavy settling, being fixed, being embedded, or being made to stay, as in the verse: «{ وَ الْجِبَالَ اَرْسٰىهَا }» [ النازعات : ۳۲ ] "And the mountains—He has fixed them firmly." {’’ اَرْسَتِ السَّفِيْنَةُ ‘‘} "The ship anchored." {’’ اَيَّانَ مُرْسٰىهَا ‘‘} means {’’ اَيَّانَ وُقُوْعُهَا ‘‘} when will its occurrence be? (Qamus) After monotheism, prophethood, and divine decree and predestination, now the fourth matter, the Resurrection, is being discussed, because these four things are the fundamental basis in the Qur’an.
➋ {قُلْ اِنَّمَا عِلْمُهَا عِنْدَ رَبِّيْ … : ’’ اِنَّمَا ‘‘} is a word of exclusivity, meaning its knowledge is only with Allah; He has not informed any close angel or any sent prophet of it. See Surah An-Nazi‘at (44) and An-Naml (66).
➌ {ثَقُلَتْ فِي السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ:} One meaning is that the earth and heavens tremble at its awe, because all will be overturned at that time. See Surah At-Takwir, Infitar, Inshiqaq, Qamar (46), and Hajj (1, 2). Another meaning is that even the earth and heavens cannot bear its knowledge, so Allah has kept it only with Himself. Shah Waliullah (may Allah have mercy on him) has interpreted it in "Al-Fawz Al-Kabir" as {’’ خَفِيَتْ ‘‘ }, meaning no one in the heavens and the earth knows it. Ibn Juzayy said: {’’ ثَقُلَتْ ثَقُلَ عِلْمُنَا اَيْ خَفِيَ‘‘} meaning its knowledge is hidden.
➍ { لَا تَاْتِيْكُمْ اِلَّا بَغْتَةً:} Indeed, its general and specific signs, such as the Dajjal, the Beast, the emergence of Gog and Magog, and the descent of ‘Isa (peace be upon him), etc., have been mentioned, but none of these events specify its exact appointed time such that the Resurrection will occur with them; the actual time is only with Allah and it will come suddenly, all at once.
➎ { يَسْـَٔلُوْنَكَ كَاَنَّكَ حَفِيٌّ عَنْهَا: ’’ حَفِيٌّ ‘‘} Originally, this refers to a person who, after repeatedly asking about something, has acquired thorough knowledge of it, i.e., these people ask you repeatedly as if you have obtained complete knowledge of it after much inquiry and investigation.

187. 1. The meaning of سَاعَۃ is "hour" (moment or instant). The Day of Judgment is called ساعۃ because it will come suddenly in such a way that in an instant the entire universe will be thrown into chaos, or, due to the swiftness of reckoning, the moment of the Day of Judgment is referred to as ساعۃ.
187. 2. The meaning of اَرْسَیٰ یُرْسِیْ is affirmation and occurrence, i.e., when will this Day of Judgment be established or occur.
187. 3. That is, certain knowledge of it is neither with any angel nor any prophet; no one except Allah has knowledge of it. He alone will manifest it at its appointed time.
187. 4. Its other meaning is: its knowledge is burdensome for the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth, because it is hidden, and hidden things are burdensome for people.
187. 5. حَفِی means to persistently question and investigate. That is, they ask you about the Day of Judgment in such a way as if you have persistently sought necessary knowledge about it from your Lord.

They ask you about the Hour—when will it be established? Say, "Its knowledge is only with my Lord. He alone will reveal it at its proper time. It will be a momentous event in the heavens and the earth; it will not come upon you except suddenly." They ask you as if you are well-informed about it [187]. Say, "Its knowledge is only with Allah, but most people do not know."

[186]
The Day of Judgment Will Come Suddenly:

Many signs of this great event of the Day of Judgment are mentioned in the Quran, for example, there will be severe earthquakes and continuous tremors on the earth, and people will ask in astonishment what has happened to this earth today; the stars will lose their light, the sun will be folded up, the mountains will fly about like carded wool, and many such things will suddenly appear. And Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ said: The Day of Judgment will occur (so suddenly) that two men will have spread a cloth between them, but they will neither be able to buy or sell with it nor fold it up; and a man will be returning after milking his she-camel, but he will not be able to drink it; and a man will be repairing his pond, but he will not be able to water his animals from it; and a man will be raising a morsel to his mouth, but he will not be able to eat it. [بخاري۔ كتاب الرقاق۔ باب طلوع الشمس من مغربها]

[187]
The Benefit of Not Disclosing the Time of the Day of Judgment:

People ask you about the Day of Judgment as if you are engaged in the investigation and research of this matter and, after searching, have gained knowledge of it. Whereas the knowledge of the Day of Judgment is exclusive to Allah Almighty, and the Prophets ؑ do not pursue matters whose disclosure Allah Almighty has withheld for a particular wisdom. And it is obvious that if the knowledge of the Day of Judgment had been given with a specific date and year, or if someone had been informed of the time of their death, then this world could not remain a place of trial for mankind. Therefore, not disclosing these matters even to any Prophet is exactly in accordance with the Divine Will, and people should never pursue such questions. Rather, they should make some preparation for it.