سُوْرَةُ مُحَمَّدٍ
Surah Muhammad (47) — Ayah 18
فَهَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا ٱلسَّاعَةَ أَن تَأْتِيَهُم بَغْتَةً ۖ فَقَدْ جَآءَ أَشْرَاطُهَا ۚ فَأَنَّىٰ لَهُمْ إِذَا جَآءَتْهُمْ ذِكْرَىٰهُمْ ﴿18﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Do they then await (anything) other than the Hour, that it should come upon them suddenly? But some of its portents (indications and signs) have already come; and when it (actually) is on them, how can they benefit then by their reminder?
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَهَلْ
fahal
Then do
يَنظُرُونَ
yanẓurūna
they wait
إِلَّا
illā
but
ٱلسَّاعَةَ
l-sāʿata
(for) the Hour
أَن
an
that
تَأْتِيَهُم
tatiyahum
it should come to them
بَغْتَةًۭ ۖ
baghtatan
suddenly
فَقَدْ
faqad
But indeed
جَآءَ
jāa
have come
أَشْرَاطُهَا ۚ
ashrāṭuhā
its indications
فَأَنَّىٰ
fa-annā
Then how
لَهُمْ
lahum
to them
إِذَا
idhā
when
جَآءَتْهُمْ
jāathum
has come to them
ذِكْرَىٰهُمْ
dhik'rāhum
their reminder
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 { فَهَلْ يَنْظُرُوْنَ اِلَّا السَّاعَةَ اَنْ تَاْتِيَهُمْ بَغْتَةً:} That is, what admonition and what warning is there that has not been conveyed to them, and what argument is there that has not been presented before them? But they are so wretched that unless they see the Resurrection with their own eyes, they are not ready to believe. Therefore, it is as if they are waiting for it to suddenly come upon them, so that they can neither believe in it based on prior knowledge, nor can they prepare for it.
➋ { فَقَدْ جَآءَ اَشْرَاطُهَا:} That is, the Resurrection they are waiting for—what delay is left in its coming? Its signs have already appeared, so what doubt remains about its arrival? Shah Abdul Qadir writes: "The greatest sign of the Resurrection is the birth of our Prophet (peace be upon him). All the prophets were awaiting the Seal of the Prophets; when he has come, only the Resurrection remains to come." (Muwaddih) Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: [ بُعِثْتُ أَنَا وَالسَّاعَةُ كَهَاتَيْنِ ] [ بخاري، الرقاق، باب قول النبي صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم : ’’ بعثت أنا والساعۃ کھاتین… ‘‘ : ۶۵۰۵ ] "I and the Resurrection have been sent like these two fingers." That is, just as the index finger and the middle finger are joined together, so too is the Resurrection coming immediately after me. Among the major signs of the Resurrection, the sign of the splitting of the moon also appeared during the life of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), as He said: « اِقْتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَةُ وَ انْشَقَّ الْقَمَرُ» [ القمر : ۱ ] "The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has split." Al-Alusi said: "Apparently, by these signs are meant those signs which had already appeared at the time of the revelation of this verse."
➌ {فَاَنّٰى لَهُمْ اِذَا جَآءَتْهُمْ ذِكْرٰىهُمْ: ’’ ذِكْرٰىهُمْ ‘‘} is the subject, and {’’ فَاَنّٰى لَهُمْ ‘‘} is the interrogative predicate brought forward. {’’ فَاَنّٰى لَهُمْ اِذَا جَآءَتْهُمْ ذِكْرٰىهُمْ ‘‘} (Then when it comes upon them, how will their admonition be possible for them), in {’’ اِذَا جَآءَتْهُمْ ‘‘}, the doer of {’’جَاءَتْ‘‘} is the pronoun of {’’ السَّاعَةَ ‘‘}. (Al-Tashil) That is, when the Resurrection comes upon them, there will be no benefit in accepting or believing in the admonition. The same point is mentioned in this verse: « يَوْمَىِٕذٍ يَّتَذَكَّرُ الْاِنْسَانُ وَ اَنّٰى لَهُ الذِّكْرٰى» [ الفجر : ۲۳] "On that Day, man will take heed, but how will the admonition benefit him then?" See also Surah Saba (51, 52) and Surah Mumin (84, 85).
➋ { فَقَدْ جَآءَ اَشْرَاطُهَا:} That is, the Resurrection they are waiting for—what delay is left in its coming? Its signs have already appeared, so what doubt remains about its arrival? Shah Abdul Qadir writes: "The greatest sign of the Resurrection is the birth of our Prophet (peace be upon him). All the prophets were awaiting the Seal of the Prophets; when he has come, only the Resurrection remains to come." (Muwaddih) Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: [ بُعِثْتُ أَنَا وَالسَّاعَةُ كَهَاتَيْنِ ] [ بخاري، الرقاق، باب قول النبي صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم : ’’ بعثت أنا والساعۃ کھاتین… ‘‘ : ۶۵۰۵ ] "I and the Resurrection have been sent like these two fingers." That is, just as the index finger and the middle finger are joined together, so too is the Resurrection coming immediately after me. Among the major signs of the Resurrection, the sign of the splitting of the moon also appeared during the life of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), as He said: « اِقْتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَةُ وَ انْشَقَّ الْقَمَرُ» [ القمر : ۱ ] "The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has split." Al-Alusi said: "Apparently, by these signs are meant those signs which had already appeared at the time of the revelation of this verse."
➌ {فَاَنّٰى لَهُمْ اِذَا جَآءَتْهُمْ ذِكْرٰىهُمْ: ’’ ذِكْرٰىهُمْ ‘‘} is the subject, and {’’ فَاَنّٰى لَهُمْ ‘‘} is the interrogative predicate brought forward. {’’ فَاَنّٰى لَهُمْ اِذَا جَآءَتْهُمْ ذِكْرٰىهُمْ ‘‘} (Then when it comes upon them, how will their admonition be possible for them), in {’’ اِذَا جَآءَتْهُمْ ‘‘}, the doer of {’’جَاءَتْ‘‘} is the pronoun of {’’ السَّاعَةَ ‘‘}. (Al-Tashil) That is, when the Resurrection comes upon them, there will be no benefit in accepting or believing in the admonition. The same point is mentioned in this verse: « يَوْمَىِٕذٍ يَّتَذَكَّرُ الْاِنْسَانُ وَ اَنّٰى لَهُ الذِّكْرٰى» [ الفجر : ۲۳] "On that Day, man will take heed, but how will the admonition benefit him then?" See also Surah Saba (51, 52) and Surah Mumin (84, 85).
