Surah Ar-Rahmaan (55) — Ayah 31

The plural of {سَنَفْرُغُ لَكُمْ اَيُّهَ الثَّقَلٰنِ: ’’ الثَّقَلٰنِ ‘‘ ’’ ثَقَلٌ‘‘} is a heavy and weighty thing. What is meant is that among the living creatures inhabiting the earth, the two heavy and numerous groups are the jinn and mankind. Out of all creatures, only these two have been given the responsibility of religious obligations, which is why they have been addressed. Al-Tabari has narrated with an authentic chain from Ali bin Abi Talhah the explanation of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) regarding {’’ سَنَفْرُغُ لَكُمْ اَيُّهَ الثَّقَلٰنِ ‘‘}: {’’ وَعِيْدٌ مِّنَ اللّٰهِ لِلْعِبَادِ وَلَيْسَ بِاللّٰهِ شُغُلٌ وَ هُوَ فَارِغٌ‘‘} meaning, "These words are a warning from Allah to His servants; otherwise, there is no occupation that distracts Allah from another task, and He is free." Imam Bukhari said: {’’سَنَفْرُغُ لَكُمْ سَنُحَاسِبُكُمْ لاَ يَشْغَلُهُ شَيْءٌ عَنْ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ مَعْرُوْفٌ فِيْ كَلاَمِ الْعَرَبِ يُقَالُ لَأَتَفَرَّغَنَّ لَكَ وَمَا بِهِ شُغْلٌ يَقُوْلُ لَآخُذَنَّكَ عَلٰي غِرَّتِكَ‘‘} [ بخاري، التفسیر، سورۃ الرحمٰن، قبل الحدیث : ۴۸۷۸ ] meaning, the phrase {’’ سَنَفْرُغُ لَكُمْ ‘‘} (We will soon be free for you) means that We will soon take account of you, because nothing prevents Allah from doing one thing over another, and this is well-known in the Arabic language. It is said, 'I will be free for you,' even though the person is not occupied with anything. The meaning is that 'I will catch you in your heedlessness.' Another meaning of {’’ سَنَفْرُغُ لَكُمْ ‘‘} is that, O jinn and mankind! We have set a timetable for you; in this world, you have the opportunity to act, and here We are fulfilling your needs at every moment, giving you whatever you ask for. Very soon, We will be finished with this phase, then the Day of Resurrection will be established, and the phase of your reckoning will begin.