Surah shura ayat 18 Tafsir Quran 42:18

﴿يَسْتَعْجِلُ بِهَا الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهَا ۖ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مُشْفِقُونَ مِنْهَا وَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهَا الْحَقُّ ۗ أَلَا إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُمَارُونَ فِي السَّاعَةِ لَفِي ضَلَالٍ بَعِيدٍ﴾
[ الشورى: 18]

42:18 Those who do not believe in it are impatient for it, but those who believe are fearful of it and know that it is the truth. Unquestionably, those who dispute concerning the Hour are in extreme error.

Those who do not believe in it seek to hasten it they say ‘When will it come?’ as a presumption on their part that it will never come; but those who believe are apprehensive of it and know that it is the truth. Nay but verily those who are in doubt those who argue concerning the Hour are indeed in extreme error!

It -the predetermined Hour- is the wish of those who deny Allah and challenge the truth of it and that it be hastened on, but it is not the object of desire of those whose hearts have been touched with the Divine hand, who dread it and stand in awe of it. They know well it is the truth and they make no doubt of its reality. Indeed those who contend with opposing argument against the predetermined Hour, denying that it shall come to pass, are transgressors who are lost in the very depth of the maze of error

A Warning to Those Who dispute concerning Matters of Religion Here Allah warns those who try to hinder those who believe in Allah, from following His path. وَالَّذِينَ يُحَآجُّونَ فِى اللَّهِ مِن بَعْدِ مَا اسَتُجِيبَ لَهُ ( And those who dispute concerning Allah, after it has been accepted, ) means, those who dispute with the believers who have responded to Allah and His Messenger, and try to stop them from following the path of guidance. حُجَّتُهُمْ دَاحِضَةٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ ( no use is their dispute before their Lord ) means, it is futile before Allah. وَعَلَيْهِمْ غَضَبٌ ( and on them is wrath, ) means, from Him. وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ ( and for them will be a severe torment. ) means, on the Day of Resurrection.
Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, and Mujahid said, "They disputed with the believers after they responded to Allah and His Messenger, and tried to prevent them from following the path of guidance, hoping that they would return to Jahiliyyah." Qatadah said, "These were the Jews and Christians who said to them, `Our religion is better than your religion, our Prophet came before your Prophet, and we are better than you and closer to Allah than you.
"' This was nothing but lies.
Then Allah says: اللَّهُ الَّذِى أَنزَلَ الْكِتَـبَ بِالْحَقِّ ( It is Allah Who has sent down the Book in truth, ) referring to all the Books which were revealed from Him to His Prophets. وَالْمِيزَانَ ( and the Balance. ) means, justice and fairness.
This was the view of Mujahid and Qatadah.
This is like the Ayat: لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا بِالْبَيِّنَـتِ وَأَنزَلْنَا مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَـبَ وَالْمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ النَّاسُ بِالْقِسْطِ ( Indeed We have sent Our Messengers with clear proofs, and revealed with them the Scripture and the Balance that mankind may keep up justice ) ( 57:25 ). وَالسَّمَآءَ رَفَعَهَا وَوَضَعَ الْمِيزَانَ - أَلاَّ تَطْغَوْاْ فِى الْمِيزَانِ - وَأَقِيمُواْ الْوَزْنَ بِالْقِسْطِ وَلاَ تُخْسِرُواْ الْمِيزَانَ ( And the heaven He has raised high, and He has set up the Balance.
In order that you may not transgress (due ) balance.
And observe the weight with equity and do not make the balance deficient.)( 55:7-9 ) وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّ السَّاعَةَ قَرِيبٌ ( And what can make you know that perhaps the Hour is close at hand ) This is encouragement ( to strive ) for its sake, a terrifying warning, and advice to think little of this world. يَسْتَعْجِلُ بِهَا الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهَا ( Those who believe not therein seek to hasten it, ) means, they say, `when will this promise be fulfilled, if you are telling the truth' But they say this by way of disbelief and stubbornness, thinking that it is unlikely to happen. وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مُشْفِقُونَ مِنْهَا ( while those who believe are fearful of it ) means, they are afraid of it happening. وَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهَا الْحَقُّ ( and know that it is the very truth. ) means, that it will undoubtedly come to pass, so they prepare themselves for it and strive for its sake.
It was reported through various chains of narration, a number reaching the level of being Mutawatir, in Sahih and Hasan narrations, in the Books of Sunan and Musnad.
According to some versions, a man addressed the Messenger of Allah ﷺ  in a loud voice, when he was on one of his journeys, calling out to him, "O Muhammad!" The Messenger of Allah ﷺ  replied in a similar manner, "Here I am!" The man said, "When will the Hour come" The Messenger of Allah ﷺ  said,
«وَيْحَكَ إِنَّهَا كَائِنَةٌ فَمَا أَعْدَدْتَ لَهَا؟»
( Woe to you! It will most certainly come.
What have you done to prepare for it ) He said, "Love for Allah and His Messenger." He said:
«أَنْتَ مَعَ مَنْ أَحْبَبْت»
( You will be with those whom you love. ) According to another Hadith:
«الْمَرْءُ مَعَ مَنْ أَحَب»
( "A man will be with those whom he loves. ) This is Mutawatir beyond a doubt.
The point is that he did not answer his question about when the Hour would happen, but he commanded him to prepare for it. أَلاَ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُمَارُونَ فَى السَّاعَةِ ( Verily, those who dispute concerning the Hour ) means, who dispute whether it will happen and think it is unlikely ever to come, لَفِى ضَلَـلَ بَعِيدٍ ( are certainly in error far away. ) means, they are clearly ignorant, because the One Who created the heavens and the earth is even more able to give life to the dead, as Allah says: وَهُوَ الَّذِى يَبْدَأُ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ وَهُوَ أَهْوَنُ عَلَيْهِ ( And He it is Who originates the creation, then He will repeat it; and this is easier for Him ) ( 30:27 ).

A Warning to Those Who dispute concerning Matters of Religion Here Allah warns those who try to hinder those who believe in Allah, from following His path. وَالَّذِينَ يُحَآجُّونَ فِى اللَّهِ مِن بَعْدِ مَا اسَتُجِيبَ لَهُ ( And those who dispute concerning Allah, after it has been accepted, ) means, those who dispute with the believers who have responded to Allah and His Messenger, and try to stop them from following the path of guidance. حُجَّتُهُمْ دَاحِضَةٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ ( no use is their dispute before their Lord ) means, it is futile before Allah. وَعَلَيْهِمْ غَضَبٌ ( and on them is wrath, ) means, from Him. وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ ( and for them will be a severe torment. ) means, on the Day of Resurrection.
Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, and Mujahid said, "They disputed with the believers after they responded to Allah and His Messenger, and tried to prevent them from following the path of guidance, hoping that they would return to Jahiliyyah." Qatadah said, "These were the Jews and Christians who said to them, `Our religion is better than your religion, our Prophet came before your Prophet, and we are better than you and closer to Allah than you.
"' This was nothing but lies.
Then Allah says: اللَّهُ الَّذِى أَنزَلَ الْكِتَـبَ بِالْحَقِّ ( It is Allah Who has sent down the Book in truth, ) referring to all the Books which were revealed from Him to His Prophets. وَالْمِيزَانَ ( and the Balance. ) means, justice and fairness.
This was the view of Mujahid and Qatadah.
This is like the Ayat: لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا بِالْبَيِّنَـتِ وَأَنزَلْنَا مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَـبَ وَالْمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ النَّاسُ بِالْقِسْطِ ( Indeed We have sent Our Messengers with clear proofs, and revealed with them the Scripture and the Balance that mankind may keep up justice ) ( 57:25 ). وَالسَّمَآءَ رَفَعَهَا وَوَضَعَ الْمِيزَانَ - أَلاَّ تَطْغَوْاْ فِى الْمِيزَانِ - وَأَقِيمُواْ الْوَزْنَ بِالْقِسْطِ وَلاَ تُخْسِرُواْ الْمِيزَانَ ( And the heaven He has raised high, and He has set up the Balance.
In order that you may not transgress (due ) balance.
And observe the weight with equity and do not make the balance deficient.)( 55:7-9 ) وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّ السَّاعَةَ قَرِيبٌ ( And what can make you know that perhaps the Hour is close at hand ) This is encouragement ( to strive ) for its sake, a terrifying warning, and advice to think little of this world. يَسْتَعْجِلُ بِهَا الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهَا ( Those who believe not therein seek to hasten it, ) means, they say, `when will this promise be fulfilled, if you are telling the truth' But they say this by way of disbelief and stubbornness, thinking that it is unlikely to happen. وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مُشْفِقُونَ مِنْهَا ( while those who believe are fearful of it ) means, they are afraid of it happening. وَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهَا الْحَقُّ ( and know that it is the very truth. ) means, that it will undoubtedly come to pass, so they prepare themselves for it and strive for its sake.
It was reported through various chains of narration, a number reaching the level of being Mutawatir, in Sahih and Hasan narrations, in the Books of Sunan and Musnad.
According to some versions, a man addressed the Messenger of Allah ﷺ  in a loud voice, when he was on one of his journeys, calling out to him, "O Muhammad!" The Messenger of Allah ﷺ  replied in a similar manner, "Here I am!" The man said, "When will the Hour come" The Messenger of Allah ﷺ  said, «وَيْحَكَ إِنَّهَا كَائِنَةٌ فَمَا أَعْدَدْتَ لَهَا؟» ( Woe to you! It will most certainly come.
What have you done to prepare for it ) He said, "Love for Allah and His Messenger." He said: «أَنْتَ مَعَ مَنْ أَحْبَبْت» ( You will be with those whom you love. ) According to another Hadith: «الْمَرْءُ مَعَ مَنْ أَحَب» ( "A man will be with those whom he loves. ) This is Mutawatir beyond a doubt.
The point is that he did not answer his question about when the Hour would happen, but he commanded him to prepare for it. أَلاَ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُمَارُونَ فَى السَّاعَةِ ( Verily, those who dispute concerning the Hour ) means, who dispute whether it will happen and think it is unlikely ever to come, لَفِى ضَلَـلَ بَعِيدٍ ( are certainly in error far away. ) means, they are clearly ignorant, because the One Who created the heavens and the earth is even more able to give life to the dead, as Allah says: وَهُوَ الَّذِى يَبْدَأُ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ وَهُوَ أَهْوَنُ عَلَيْهِ ( And He it is Who originates the creation, then He will repeat it; and this is easier for Him ) ( 30:27 ).

( Those who believe not therein ) in the coming of the Hour, i.e. Abu Jahl and his host ( seek to hasten it, while those who believe ) in Muhammad ( pbuh ) in the Qur’an and in the coming of the Hour, i.e. Abu Bakr and his fellow believers ( are fearful of it ) are fearful of the coming of the Hour, its horrors and terrors ( and know that it ) i.e. the coming of the Hour ( is the Truth ) it will happen. ( Are not they who dispute, in doubt concerning the Hour, far astray ) from the Truth and guidance?

Those who believe not therein seek to hasten it, while those who believe are fearful of it, and know that it is the very truth. Verily, those who dispute concerning the Hour are certainly in error far away.

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