Surah An-Nazi'at — Verse 42

Word Meanings:

• As-Sa'ah (الساعة): The Hour — the Day of Resurrection and the final judgment.
• Ayyaana (أيان): When — a question seeking the specific time.
• Mursaha (مرساها): Its anchorage or its occurrence — the fixed time when it will come to pass.

Tafsir (Explanation):

The disbelievers of Makkah, out of mockery and denial, repeatedly ask you, O Messenger, about the Hour: "When will it happen? When will it be anchored?" They pose this question not out of genuine curiosity or faith, but to challenge and ridicule the message you bring. They want to know the exact timing of the Day of Resurrection, as if it were a ship whose arrival they could predict and prepare for.

The answer to their question is not within your knowledge, nor is it within the knowledge of any created being. The knowledge of the Hour rests solely with Allah, the Almighty. Your role, O Messenger, is not to provide them with a date, but to warn them of its certainty and to call them to prepare for it through faith and righteous deeds. When that Day arrives — and it will surely arrive — its terror will be so overwhelming that those who witness it will feel as though their entire worldly life lasted no more than a brief moment between the afternoon and sunset, or between dawn and midday. Such is the shock and awe of that Day that all previous perceptions of time and life will be rendered insignificant.

A Da'wah Reflection:

Dear reader, the question of "when" is one that has occupied humanity for centuries. Yet, the Quran redirects our focus from the timing to the preparation. Instead of asking "when," ask yourself: "Am I ready?" The One who has promised the Hour is the One whose promise never fails. He has not told us the time because He wants us to live every moment as if it could be our last, and to hope for His mercy while fearing His justice. The Hour is not a distant threat; it is a near reality for every soul, for death is the personal hour of each individual. So, let this question of the disbelievers be a reminder for you: do not waste your life in vain debates about the unseen timing, but invest it in what will benefit you on that Day — sincere faith, good deeds, and a heart turned toward your Lord. The wise one is he who prepares for the journey before the journey begins, for when the Hour strikes, no plea for delay will be accepted, and no second chance will be granted.