سُوْرَةُ الْاَعْرَافِ
Surah Al-A'raaf (7) — Ayah 187
يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلسَّاعَةِ أَيَّانَ مُرْسَىٰهَا ۖ قُلْ إِنَّمَا عِلْمُهَا عِندَ رَبِّى ۖ لَا يُجَلِّيهَا لِوَقْتِهَآ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ ثَقُلَتْ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ لَا تَأْتِيكُمْ إِلَّا بَغْتَةً ۗ يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ كَأَنَّكَ حَفِىٌّ عَنْهَا ۖ قُلْ إِنَّمَا عِلْمُهَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿187﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
They ask you about the Hour (Day of Resurrection): "When will be its appointed time?" Say: "The knowledge thereof is with my Lord (Alone). None can reveal its time but He. Heavy is its burden through the heavens and the earth. It shall not come upon you except all of a sudden." They ask you as if you have a good knowledge of it. Say: "The knowledge thereof is with Allâh (Alone), but most of mankind know not."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ
yasalūnaka
They ask you
عَنِ
ʿani
about
ٱلسَّاعَةِ
l-sāʿati
the Hour
أَيَّانَ
ayyāna
when will be
مُرْسَىٰهَا ۖ
mur'sāhā
its appointed time
قُلْ
qul
Say
إِنَّمَا
innamā
Only
عِلْمُهَا
ʿil'muhā
its knowledge
عِندَ
ʿinda
(is) with
رَبِّى ۖ
rabbī
my Lord
لَا
lā
no (one)
يُجَلِّيهَا
yujallīhā
can reveal [it]
لِوَقْتِهَآ
liwaqtihā
its time
إِلَّا
illā
except
هُوَ ۚ
huwa
Him
ثَقُلَتْ
thaqulat
It lays heavily
فِى
fī
in
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ
l-samāwāti
the heavens
وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ
wal-arḍi
and the earth
لَا
lā
Not
تَأْتِيكُمْ
tatīkum
will it come to you
إِلَّا
illā
but
بَغْتَةًۭ ۗ
baghtatan
suddenly
يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ
yasalūnaka
They ask you
كَأَنَّكَ
ka-annaka
as if you
حَفِىٌّ
ḥafiyyun
(were) well informed
عَنْهَا ۖ
ʿanhā
about it
قُلْ
qul
Say
إِنَّمَا
innamā
Only
عِلْمُهَا
ʿil'muhā
its knowledge
عِندَ
ʿinda
(is) with
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
وَلَـٰكِنَّ
walākinna
but
أَكْثَرَ
akthara
most
ٱلنَّاسِ
l-nāsi
(of) the people
لَا
lā
(do) not
يَعْلَمُونَ
yaʿlamūna
know
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 187) ➊ {يَسْـَٔلُوْنَكَ عَنِ السَّاعَةِ اَيَّانَ مُرْسٰىهَا: ’’ السَّاعَةِ ‘‘} means an hour, moment, instant, or second, because the Resurrection will occur suddenly in a single moment. {’’ اَيَّانَ ‘‘} The more authentic view is that {’’اَيٌّ ‘‘} is derived from the pattern of {’’فَعْلَانَ‘‘}, a temporal adverb meaning {’’مَتٰي‘‘}, i.e., when. {’’ مُرْسٰىهَا ‘‘} This {’’اَرْسٰي يُرْسِيْ‘‘} is a verbal noun from the form "af‘al," and is used both transitively and intransitively. Most often, it refers to something very heavy settling, being fixed, being embedded, or being made to stay, as in the verse: «{ وَ الْجِبَالَ اَرْسٰىهَا }» [ النازعات : ۳۲ ] "And the mountains—He has fixed them firmly." {’’ اَرْسَتِ السَّفِيْنَةُ ‘‘} "The ship anchored." {’’ اَيَّانَ مُرْسٰىهَا ‘‘} means {’’ اَيَّانَ وُقُوْعُهَا ‘‘} when will its occurrence be? (Qamus) After monotheism, prophethood, and divine decree and predestination, now the fourth matter, the Resurrection, is being discussed, because these four things are the fundamental basis in the Qur’an.
➋ {قُلْ اِنَّمَا عِلْمُهَا عِنْدَ رَبِّيْ … : ’’ اِنَّمَا ‘‘} is a word of exclusivity, meaning its knowledge is only with Allah; He has not informed any close angel or any sent prophet of it. See Surah An-Nazi‘at (44) and An-Naml (66).
➌ {ثَقُلَتْ فِي السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ:} One meaning is that the earth and heavens tremble at its awe, because all will be overturned at that time. See Surah At-Takwir, Infitar, Inshiqaq, Qamar (46), and Hajj (1, 2). Another meaning is that even the earth and heavens cannot bear its knowledge, so Allah has kept it only with Himself. Shah Waliullah (may Allah have mercy on him) has interpreted it in "Al-Fawz Al-Kabir" as {’’ خَفِيَتْ ‘‘ }, meaning no one in the heavens and the earth knows it. Ibn Juzayy said: {’’ ثَقُلَتْ ثَقُلَ عِلْمُنَا اَيْ خَفِيَ‘‘} meaning its knowledge is hidden.
➍ { لَا تَاْتِيْكُمْ اِلَّا بَغْتَةً:} Indeed, its general and specific signs, such as the Dajjal, the Beast, the emergence of Gog and Magog, and the descent of ‘Isa (peace be upon him), etc., have been mentioned, but none of these events specify its exact appointed time such that the Resurrection will occur with them; the actual time is only with Allah and it will come suddenly, all at once.
➎ { يَسْـَٔلُوْنَكَ كَاَنَّكَ حَفِيٌّ عَنْهَا: ’’ حَفِيٌّ ‘‘} Originally, this refers to a person who, after repeatedly asking about something, has acquired thorough knowledge of it, i.e., these people ask you repeatedly as if you have obtained complete knowledge of it after much inquiry and investigation.
➋ {قُلْ اِنَّمَا عِلْمُهَا عِنْدَ رَبِّيْ … : ’’ اِنَّمَا ‘‘} is a word of exclusivity, meaning its knowledge is only with Allah; He has not informed any close angel or any sent prophet of it. See Surah An-Nazi‘at (44) and An-Naml (66).
➌ {ثَقُلَتْ فِي السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ:} One meaning is that the earth and heavens tremble at its awe, because all will be overturned at that time. See Surah At-Takwir, Infitar, Inshiqaq, Qamar (46), and Hajj (1, 2). Another meaning is that even the earth and heavens cannot bear its knowledge, so Allah has kept it only with Himself. Shah Waliullah (may Allah have mercy on him) has interpreted it in "Al-Fawz Al-Kabir" as {’’ خَفِيَتْ ‘‘ }, meaning no one in the heavens and the earth knows it. Ibn Juzayy said: {’’ ثَقُلَتْ ثَقُلَ عِلْمُنَا اَيْ خَفِيَ‘‘} meaning its knowledge is hidden.
➍ { لَا تَاْتِيْكُمْ اِلَّا بَغْتَةً:} Indeed, its general and specific signs, such as the Dajjal, the Beast, the emergence of Gog and Magog, and the descent of ‘Isa (peace be upon him), etc., have been mentioned, but none of these events specify its exact appointed time such that the Resurrection will occur with them; the actual time is only with Allah and it will come suddenly, all at once.
➎ { يَسْـَٔلُوْنَكَ كَاَنَّكَ حَفِيٌّ عَنْهَا: ’’ حَفِيٌّ ‘‘} Originally, this refers to a person who, after repeatedly asking about something, has acquired thorough knowledge of it, i.e., these people ask you repeatedly as if you have obtained complete knowledge of it after much inquiry and investigation.
