سُوْرَةُ الرَّعْدِ
Surah Ar-Ra'd (13) — Ayah 6
وَيَسْتَعْجِلُونَكَ بِٱلسَّيِّئَةِ قَبْلَ ٱلْحَسَنَةِ وَقَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِمُ ٱلْمَثُلَـٰتُ ۗ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُو مَغْفِرَةٍ لِّلنَّاسِ عَلَىٰ ظُلْمِهِمْ ۖ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَشَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ ﴿6﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
They ask you to hasten the evil before the good, while (many) exemplary punishments have indeed occurred before them. But verily, your Lord is full of Forgiveness for mankind in spite of their wrong-doing. And verily, your Lord is (also) Severe in punishment.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَيَسْتَعْجِلُونَكَ
wayastaʿjilūnaka
And they ask you to hasten
بِٱلسَّيِّئَةِ
bil-sayi-ati
the evil
قَبْلَ
qabla
before
ٱلْحَسَنَةِ
l-ḥasanati
the good
وَقَدْ
waqad
and verily
خَلَتْ
khalat
has occurred
مِن
min
from
قَبْلِهِمُ
qablihimu
before them
ٱلْمَثُلَـٰتُ ۗ
l-mathulātu
[the] similar punishments
وَإِنَّ
wa-inna
And indeed
رَبَّكَ
rabbaka
your Lord
لَذُو
ladhū
(is) full
مَغْفِرَةٍۢ
maghfiratin
(of) forgiveness
لِّلنَّاسِ
lilnnāsi
for mankind
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
for
ظُلْمِهِمْ ۖ
ẓul'mihim
their wrongdoing
وَإِنَّ
wa-inna
and indeed
رَبَّكَ
rabbaka
your Lord
لَشَدِيدُ
lashadīdu
(is) severe
ٱلْعِقَابِ
l-ʿiqābi
(in) the penalty
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
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.
6. 1. That is, many examples of the destruction of nations and towns due to Allah's punishment have already passed, yet they still demand the punishment to come quickly? This was said in response to the disbelievers who used to say, "O Prophet! If you are truthful, then bring the punishment upon us with which you keep warning us."
6. 3. That is, despite the people's oppression and disobedience, He does not hasten the punishment but rather grants respite, and sometimes He delays so much that He leaves the matter for the Day of Judgment. This is the result of His forbearance, generosity, and forgiveness, otherwise, if He were to immediately hold accountable and send punishment, then not a single human would remain on the face of the earth (وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ اللّٰهُ النَّاسَ بِمَا كَسَبُوْا مَا تَرَكَ عَلٰي ظَهْرِهَا مِنْ دَاۗبَّةٍ وَّلٰكِنْ يُّؤَخِّرُهُمْ اِلٰٓى اَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۚ فَاِذَا جَاۗءَ اَجَلُهُمْ فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ بِعِبَادِهٖ بَصِيْرًا 45) 35. Fatir:45) "And if Allah were to seize the people for what they have earned, He would not leave on the surface of the earth a single soul." 6. 3. This is the mention of Allah's other attribute so that man does not focus on only one aspect but also considers the other aspect, because by constantly looking at only one side, many things remain hidden. That is why, in the Noble Quran, wherever Allah's attribute of mercy and forgiveness is mentioned, His other attribute of might and compulsion is also mentioned, as is the case here, so that both hope and fear remain before us. Because if only hope remains, then man becomes bold in disobeying Allah, and if only fear dominates the heart and mind at all times, then one becomes hopeless of Allah's mercy, and both are wrong and destructive for a person. That is why it is said: "Al-iman bayn al-khawf wal-raja" — faith is between fear and hope, meaning that faith is the name of balance and moderation between the two. A person should neither be heedless of Allah's punishment nor despair of His mercy. For further discussion on this topic, see Surah Al-An'am, Surah Al-A'raf, Surah Al-Hijr.
6. 3. That is, despite the people's oppression and disobedience, He does not hasten the punishment but rather grants respite, and sometimes He delays so much that He leaves the matter for the Day of Judgment. This is the result of His forbearance, generosity, and forgiveness, otherwise, if He were to immediately hold accountable and send punishment, then not a single human would remain on the face of the earth (وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ اللّٰهُ النَّاسَ بِمَا كَسَبُوْا مَا تَرَكَ عَلٰي ظَهْرِهَا مِنْ دَاۗبَّةٍ وَّلٰكِنْ يُّؤَخِّرُهُمْ اِلٰٓى اَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۚ فَاِذَا جَاۗءَ اَجَلُهُمْ فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ بِعِبَادِهٖ بَصِيْرًا 45) 35. Fatir:45) "And if Allah were to seize the people for what they have earned, He would not leave on the surface of the earth a single soul." 6. 3. This is the mention of Allah's other attribute so that man does not focus on only one aspect but also considers the other aspect, because by constantly looking at only one side, many things remain hidden. That is why, in the Noble Quran, wherever Allah's attribute of mercy and forgiveness is mentioned, His other attribute of might and compulsion is also mentioned, as is the case here, so that both hope and fear remain before us. Because if only hope remains, then man becomes bold in disobeying Allah, and if only fear dominates the heart and mind at all times, then one becomes hopeless of Allah's mercy, and both are wrong and destructive for a person. That is why it is said: "Al-iman bayn al-khawf wal-raja" — faith is between fear and hope, meaning that faith is the name of balance and moderation between the two. A person should neither be heedless of Allah's punishment nor despair of His mercy. For further discussion on this topic, see Surah Al-An'am, Surah Al-A'raf, Surah Al-Hijr.
