سُوْرَةُ الشُّوْرٰي
Surah Ash-Shura (42) — Ayah 18
يَسْتَعْجِلُ بِهَا ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهَا ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مُشْفِقُونَ مِنْهَا وَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهَا ٱلْحَقُّ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُمَارُونَ فِى ٱلسَّاعَةِ لَفِى ضَلَـٰلٍۭ بَعِيدٍ ﴿18﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Those who believe not therein seek to hasten it, while those who believe are fearful of it, and know that it is the very truth. Verily, those who dispute concerning the Hour are certainly in error far away.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَسْتَعْجِلُ
yastaʿjilu
Seek to hasten
بِهَا
bihā
[of] it
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
لَا
lā
(do) not
يُؤْمِنُونَ
yu'minūna
believe
بِهَا ۖ
bihā
in it
وَٱلَّذِينَ
wa-alladhīna
and those who
ءَامَنُوا۟
āmanū
believe
مُشْفِقُونَ
mush'fiqūna
(are) fearful
مِنْهَا
min'hā
of it
وَيَعْلَمُونَ
wayaʿlamūna
and know
أَنَّهَا
annahā
that it
ٱلْحَقُّ ۗ
l-ḥaqu
(is) the truth
أَلَآ
alā
Unquestionably
إِنَّ
inna
indeed
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
يُمَارُونَ
yumārūna
dispute
فِى
fī
concerning
ٱلسَّاعَةِ
l-sāʿati
the Hour
لَفِى
lafī
(are) certainly in
ضَلَـٰلٍۭ
ḍalālin
error
بَعِيدٍ
baʿīdin
far
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 18) ➊ The meaning of { يَسْتَعْجِلُ بِهَا الَّذِيْنَ لَا يُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِهَا: ’’اِسْتِعْجَالٌ‘‘} is to demand the bringing of something before its appointed time. When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would warn about the Day of Judgment and its nearness, the disbelievers would demand that it be brought immediately. Their purpose was only to deny the Day of Judgment and to mock it, so that when it would not occur immediately upon their demand, they would reject it and make fun of it, saying that if the Day of Judgment were real, it would have come at our request. However, it will not come at their request, but rather at the appointed time set by Allah, the knowledge of which no one possesses except Him. In this verse, the reason for their audacity is explained: the only reason for their demand is that they do not believe in the Day of Judgment, on which deeds will be accounted for. If they were certain of this, they would never hasten for it, but rather would be concerned with preparing for it.
➋ { وَ الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا مُشْفِقُوْنَ مِنْهَا …:} That is, in contrast to the deniers of the Day of Judgment, those who believe in it are always greatly fearful that death may come at any moment and end their opportunity for action, and then, when the Great Resurrection is established, what will be their state at the time of reckoning. (See Anbiya: 49; Nur: 37; Dahr: 7) Because they are certain that it will definitely occur.
➌ The meaning of { اَلَاۤ اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ يُمَارُوْنَ فِي السَّاعَةِ لَفِيْ ضَلٰلٍۭ بَعِيْدٍ: ’’ يُمَارُوْنَ ‘‘} is both "they doubt" and "they dispute." That is, if a person is certain about the Day of Judgment, he fears Allah and, when the truth becomes clear, he accepts it. But one who doubts its coming and keeps disputing about it will consider faith and righteous deeds to be useless, and due to the absence of fear of accountability, he will be bold in every sin and will not refrain from even the greatest of injustices. Such people have gone far astray from the right path, from where their return is not possible. In {’’ ضَلٰلٍۭ بَعِيْدٍ ‘‘}, it is also included that they have gone so far from the straight path that their eyes will only be opened on the Day of Judgment, when returning will no longer be possible. See Surah Saba (51 to 54).
➋ { وَ الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا مُشْفِقُوْنَ مِنْهَا …:} That is, in contrast to the deniers of the Day of Judgment, those who believe in it are always greatly fearful that death may come at any moment and end their opportunity for action, and then, when the Great Resurrection is established, what will be their state at the time of reckoning. (See Anbiya: 49; Nur: 37; Dahr: 7) Because they are certain that it will definitely occur.
➌ The meaning of { اَلَاۤ اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ يُمَارُوْنَ فِي السَّاعَةِ لَفِيْ ضَلٰلٍۭ بَعِيْدٍ: ’’ يُمَارُوْنَ ‘‘} is both "they doubt" and "they dispute." That is, if a person is certain about the Day of Judgment, he fears Allah and, when the truth becomes clear, he accepts it. But one who doubts its coming and keeps disputing about it will consider faith and righteous deeds to be useless, and due to the absence of fear of accountability, he will be bold in every sin and will not refrain from even the greatest of injustices. Such people have gone far astray from the right path, from where their return is not possible. In {’’ ضَلٰلٍۭ بَعِيْدٍ ‘‘}, it is also included that they have gone so far from the straight path that their eyes will only be opened on the Day of Judgment, when returning will no longer be possible. See Surah Saba (51 to 54).
