Surah Al-Mu'minun — Verse 40

Word Meanings:

• ʿammā qalīl — after a short time, very soon.
• la-yuṣbiḥunna nādimīn — they will certainly wake up (in the morning) as regretful ones, i.e., they will find themselves in a state of deep remorse.

Explanation of the Verse:

In this verse, Allah — Glorified and Exalted — responds to His Prophet Nūḥ (peace be upon him), who had invoked Him against his people after they persisted in denial and mockery. Allah says: "After a very short while, they will certainly wake up in the morning as regretful ones." This is a divine promise and a decisive decree that the punishment would descend upon them soon, and when they witness it with their own eyes, they would be overwhelmed with regret — regret for their stubbornness, their arrogance, and their rejection of the truth that had been brought to them. Their regret, however, would come too late, for the time of repentance would have passed, and the punishment would be inevitable. The expression "they will wake up in the morning" carries a sense of suddenness and certainty — as if their state of regret would be so vivid and overwhelming that it would greet them at the break of day, leaving no room for escape or denial.

Reflection and Daʿwah:

This verse carries a profound lesson for every soul: the delay of punishment is not a sign of neglect, but rather a window of mercy from Allah. Yet, when that window closes, regret becomes a bitter companion. How many people today mock the truth, ridicule the believers, and think that they will never be held to account? Allah grants them respite, but when His decree arrives, no plea or remorse will avail them. The wise believer is the one who hastens to repentance before the morning of regret arrives — before the heart is sealed, before the soul reaches the throat, and before the punishment becomes a reality that cannot be reversed. Let this verse be a wake-up call: Allah's promise is true, and His timing is perfect. Do not let the sweetness of sin deceive you, for the bitterness of regret is far more intense. Turn to Allah now, while the door of repentance is still open, and be among those who wake up to the mercy of their Lord, not to the torment of His justice.