سُوْرَةُ الْجِنِّ

Surah Al-Jinn (72) — Ayah 25

The Jinn · Meccan · Juz 29 · Page 573

قُلْ إِنْ أَدْرِىٓ أَقَرِيبٌ مَّا تُوعَدُونَ أَمْ يَجْعَلُ لَهُۥ رَبِّىٓ أَمَدًا ﴿25﴾
Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): "I know not whether (the punishment) which you are promised is near or whether my Lord will appoint for it a distant term.
قُلْ qul Say
إِنْ in Not
أَدْرِىٓ adrī I know
أَقَرِيبٌۭ aqarībun whether is near
مَّا what
تُوعَدُونَ tūʿadūna you are promised
أَمْ am or (whether)
يَجْعَلُ yajʿalu will appoint
لَهُۥ lahu for it
رَبِّىٓ rabbī my Lord
أَمَدًا amadan a (distant) term

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah 25) {قُلْ اِنْ اَدْرِيْۤ اَقَرِيْبٌ … :} That is, these people who are impatient and ask when the dominance of Islam, the punishment upon the disbelievers, and the matter of the Day of Judgment will occur—so you say to them that my duty is to warn you; it is not my job to specify the time, nor do I know whether that time is very near or whether my Lord has set another term for it.

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

25. 1 The meaning is that the knowledge of punishment or the Hour belongs to the unseen, which only Allah knows whether it is near or far.

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

25. Say: I do not know whether what you are promised is near, or whether my Lord will appoint for it a distant term [23].

[23] In this verse, without repeating the question, an answer is being given to the oft-repeated and worn-out question of the disbelievers, which is that I have no knowledge of the exact date of the Day of Resurrection, because I am not the Knower of the Unseen, nor have I ever claimed to be. Only Allah Almighty is the Knower of the Unseen. He alone knows whether it will come soon or late. However, I do know this much: it will certainly come, whenever it may be.