Surah Hud Verse 8 - Read, Listen, Translation, English : And if We hold back from them the punishment for…

Hud · 8/123

Translation Transliteration — Hud

وَلَئِنْ أَخَّرْنَا عَنْهُمُ الْعَذَابَ إِلَىٰ أُمَّةٍ مَّعْدُودَةٍ لَّيَقُولُنَّ مَا يَحْبِسُهُ ۗ أَلَا يَوْمَ يَأْتِيهِمْ لَيْسَ مَصْرُوفًا عَنْهُمْ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُوا بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِئُونَ ۝٨

🔤 Transliteration

Wala`in akhkharnaa `anhumul `azaaba ilaaa ummatim ma`doodatil la yaqoolunna maa yahbisuh; alaa yawma yaateehim laisa masroofan `anhum wa haaqa bihim maa kaanoo bihee yastahzi`oon

📖 Translation (English Meaning)

📖 English Meaning

And if We hold back from them the punishment for a limited time, they will surely say, "What detains it?" Unquestionably, on the Day it comes to them, it will not be averted from them, and they will be enveloped by what they used to ridicule.

🌐 Additional reference in Français

📜

Translation — Tafsir

Key Words and Their Meanings:

أُمَّةٍ مَّعْدُودَةٍ — a limited, counted period of time; a fixed term or appointed duration.
مَا يَحْبِسُهُ — "What is holding it back?" — a mocking question asking why the promised punishment has not yet arrived.
لَيْسَ مَصْرُوفًا — cannot be turned away, repelled, or averted.
حَاقَ — surrounded, enveloped, or descended upon completely.

Explanation of the Verse:

In this profound verse, Allah addresses the attitude of the disbelievers who, when warned of divine punishment, grew impatient and mocked the promise. Allah says: even if We delay their punishment until a fixed, limited term — a period known only to Us — they will still say in arrogance and ridicule: "What is holding it back? Why doesn't it come if it is true?"

This reflects a deep human weakness: when people do not see immediate consequences, they assume none will ever come. They mistake Allah's patience for His absence, and His mercy for weakness. But the believer understands that Allah's timing is perfect, and His delay is not a denial — it is a grace, an opportunity for repentance, and a test of faith.

Then Allah delivers a decisive warning: on the day the punishment finally arrives — like the day of Badr for those who mocked before — it will not be turned away from them by any power. No intercessor, no strength, no wealth, no status will shield them. What they used to ridicule and jest about will surround them completely from every side, leaving no escape and no hope.

This verse teaches us a timeless lesson: never mock the promises of Allah, whether they be promises of reward or warnings of punishment. What is delayed is not cancelled. What is postponed is not forgotten. And those who laugh at the truth today may find themselves trapped by it tomorrow, when laughter turns to regret and mockery turns to mourning.

Let this be a call to every soul: do not let the delay of justice deceive you, and do not let the patience of Allah embolden you in sin. The One who is slow to anger is also swift in accounting, and His mercy is for those who turn back before the appointed time — not for those who persist until the moment when no turning back remains.

🎧 Listen

📜 Verse 6-10 — Hud

6۞ وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا وَيَعْلَمُ مُسْتَقَرَّهَا وَمُسْتَوْدَعَهَا ۚ كُلٌّ فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ

And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allah is its provision, and He knows its place of dwelling and place of storage. All is in a clear register.

7وَهُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ وَكَانَ عَرْشُهُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۗ وَلَئِن قُلْتَ إِنَّكُم مَّبْعُوثُونَ مِن بَعْدِ الْمَوْتِ لَيَقُولَنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِنْ هَٰذَا إِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ

And it is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days - and His Throne had been upon water - that He might test you as to which of you is best in deed. But if you say, "Indeed, you are resurrected after death," those who disbelieve will surely say, "This is not but obvious magic."

8وَلَئِنْ أَخَّرْنَا عَنْهُمُ الْعَذَابَ إِلَىٰ أُمَّةٍ مَّعْدُودَةٍ لَّيَقُولُنَّ مَا يَحْبِسُهُ ۗ أَلَا يَوْمَ يَأْتِيهِمْ لَيْسَ مَصْرُوفًا عَنْهُمْ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُوا بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِئُونَ

9وَلَئِنْ أَذَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ مِنَّا رَحْمَةً ثُمَّ نَزَعْنَاهَا مِنْهُ إِنَّهُ لَيَئُوسٌ كَفُورٌ

And if We give man a taste of mercy from Us and then We withdraw it from him, indeed, he is despairing and ungrateful.

10وَلَئِنْ أَذَقْنَاهُ نَعْمَاءَ بَعْدَ ضَرَّاءَ مَسَّتْهُ لَيَقُولَنَّ ذَهَبَ السَّيِّئَاتُ عَنِّي ۚ إِنَّهُ لَفَرِحٌ فَخُورٌ

But if We give him a taste of favor after hardship has touched him, he will surely say, "Bad times have left me." Indeed, he is exultant and boastful -

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Translation — Hud 8

Surah Hud Verse 8 - Read, Listen, Translation, English : And if We hold back from them the punishment for…

Surah Verse 8/123 — Hud هود (Meccan). Read Listen Translation (English). Listen: Hud Listen, Hud Translation, Hud mp3, Hud pdf. Verse 6–10. English Meaning: Français.

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