سُوْرَةُ النَّمْلِ
Surah An-Naml (27) — Ayah 71
وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَـٰذَا ٱلْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ ﴿71﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And they (the disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh) say: "When (will) this promise (be fulfilled), if you are truthful?"
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَيَقُولُونَ
wayaqūlūna
And they say
مَتَىٰ
matā
When
هَـٰذَا
hādhā
(will) this
ٱلْوَعْدُ
l-waʿdu
promise (be fulfilled)
إِن
in
if
كُنتُمْ
kuntum
you are
صَـٰدِقِينَ
ṣādiqīna
truthful
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
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 71) ➊ The disbelievers did not say this because they wanted to know when the Day of Resurrection and the punishment that will occur on it would take place, but rather they said this to mock the Day of Resurrection. Their purpose was that we will demand for it to be brought as soon as possible, and when it does not occur according to our demand, we will get the opportunity to mock it and declare it false.
➋ With the word {’’ الْوَعْدُ ‘‘}, they were also mocking the Day of Resurrection, because a promise is made for something good, while a warning is given for something bad. Mockingly, they are calling the Day of Resurrection {’’ مَتٰى هٰذَا الْوَعْدُ ‘‘}, and then by saying {’’ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ صٰدِقِيْنَ ‘‘}, they are inciting to bring the punishment as soon as possible. They do not know that there is no doubt in the truthfulness of the prophets, but bringing the punishment or not, and bringing it quickly or after a delay, is not the work of the prophet, but rather the work of Allah Almighty. The prophet's job is only to warn, as He said: «{ وَ يَقُوْلُوْنَ مَتٰى هٰذَا الْوَعْدُ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ صٰدِقِيْنَ (25) قُلْ اِنَّمَا الْعِلْمُ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ وَ اِنَّمَاۤ اَنَا نَذِيْرٌ مُّبِيْنٌ }» [الملک : ۲۵، ۲۶ ] "And they say, 'When will this promise be fulfilled, if you are truthful?' Say, 'Knowledge of it is only with Allah, and I am only a clear warner.'"
➋ With the word {’’ الْوَعْدُ ‘‘}, they were also mocking the Day of Resurrection, because a promise is made for something good, while a warning is given for something bad. Mockingly, they are calling the Day of Resurrection {’’ مَتٰى هٰذَا الْوَعْدُ ‘‘}, and then by saying {’’ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ صٰدِقِيْنَ ‘‘}, they are inciting to bring the punishment as soon as possible. They do not know that there is no doubt in the truthfulness of the prophets, but bringing the punishment or not, and bringing it quickly or after a delay, is not the work of the prophet, but rather the work of Allah Almighty. The prophet's job is only to warn, as He said: «{ وَ يَقُوْلُوْنَ مَتٰى هٰذَا الْوَعْدُ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ صٰدِقِيْنَ (25) قُلْ اِنَّمَا الْعِلْمُ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ وَ اِنَّمَاۤ اَنَا نَذِيْرٌ مُّبِيْنٌ }» [الملک : ۲۵، ۲۶ ] "And they say, 'When will this promise be fulfilled, if you are truthful?' Say, 'Knowledge of it is only with Allah, and I am only a clear warner.'"
