Surah Ar-Rum — Verse 55

Word Meanings:

• Al-Mujrimoon (الْمُجْرِمُونَ): The criminals, specifically the polytheists and those who persisted in disbelief and sin.
• Labithoo (لَبِثُوا): They remained or stayed (in this world or in their graves).
• Yu'fakoon (يُؤْفَكُونَ): They were turned away or diverted (from the truth), meaning they were deluded and led astray from sound judgment and honesty.

Tafsir (Explanation):

On the Day when the Hour comes and all of creation is raised from their graves, the criminals — those who rejected the truth and persisted in wrongdoing — will swear solemn oaths that they did not remain in this world or in their graves except for a single hour, a fleeting moment. They will say this because, upon witnessing the awe-inspiring reality of the Hereafter and the eternal consequences before them, their worldly life will seem utterly insignificant and brief. Yet, they will be lying in their oaths, for they know the truth but deny it, and they will be exposed and humiliated before all of creation.

This behavior is not new — just as they are now turned away from the truth and from acknowledging the reality of their prolonged stay, so too were they in the worldly life turned away from the truth that the messengers brought. They were deluded by their desires, deceived by falsehood, and diverted from sincere reflection and honest admission. Their hearts were so accustomed to falsehood that even in the most serious moment of all — the Day of Judgment — they cannot speak the truth.

A Da'wah Reflection:

This verse is a profound reminder of how short this worldly life truly is, no matter how long we live. When we stand before Allah, even the longest lives will feel like the blink of an eye. The criminals in this verse were so accustomed to falsehood that they could not escape it even on that terrifying Day. What a tragedy it is to live a life built on denial and deception, only to have that same deception cling to you in the Hereafter!

Dear reader, let this be a wake-up call. The life of this world is but a fleeting moment compared to the eternal life to come. Do not let your heart be hardened by the distractions of this world, and do not let falsehood become your habit. Turn to Allah now, in this short life, with sincerity and honesty. Embrace the truth that the messengers brought — the truth of Islam — and live by it. For on that Day, the truthful will be honored, and the liars will be disgraced. Choose now to be among those who speak the truth, believe in the truth, and live the truth, so that you may be saved from the humiliation of that Day and granted the eternal bliss of Paradise. Allah, in His infinite mercy, has given you this very moment to turn back to Him — do not waste it.