Surah Al-A'raf — Verse 14

Word Meanings:

• Anẓirnī (أَنظِرْنِي): Grant me respite, delay my term, do not cause me to die.
• Yawma yubʿathūn (يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ): The Day when they will be raised from their graves — the Day of Resurrection.

Tafsir (Explanation):

When Iblis (Satan) was expelled from Allah’s mercy and cursed for his arrogance and disobedience, he did not repent or humble himself. Instead, driven by spite and despair of ever receiving divine mercy, he made a bold and wicked request: “My Lord, grant me respite until the Day when they are raised” — meaning, do not let me die until the Day of Resurrection.

His intention was purely malicious: he wanted to live long enough to mislead as many of Adam’s descendants as possible, to drag them down with him into ruin. He sought to make his own rebellion contagious, turning the children of Adam into his followers so that they would share his fate. The commentators note that the accursed one aimed to escape death altogether, thinking that if he survived until the final resurrection, he would never taste death — for after that Day, there is no further death. However, his request was not granted in full; he was only given respite until the first blast of the Trumpet, the appointed time known to Allah, after which he too will die like all creatures.

This verse teaches us a profound lesson: the enemy of mankind is relentless and patient in his enmity. He does not tire, and he does not give up. His only goal is to distance us from our Lord and to make us forget our purpose. Yet, at the same time, we must remember that his power is limited — he has no authority over the sincere believers who put their trust in Allah. The Qur’an reminds us: “Indeed, Satan has no authority over those who believe and rely upon their Lord” (An-Nahl 16:99).

So let every believer take heed: since Iblis has been granted this long respite, we must arm ourselves with faith, knowledge, and constant remembrance of Allah. We must not be deceived by his whispers nor follow his footsteps. The door of repentance remains open for us until the very last moment of our lives — unlike Iblis, who was sealed in his arrogance. Seize this opportunity, return to your Creator, and do not let the enemy’s patience outlast your own resolve. For Paradise is real, and the path to it is clear — and the one who walks it with sincerity will find Allah’s mercy greater than all the schemes of Satan combined.