Thooqoo fitnatakum hatha allathee kuntum bihi tastaAAjiloon (surah zariyat: 14)

Tafseer Tafheem-ul-Quran by Syed Abu-al-A'la Maududi

(51:14) (and be told): 'Taste your ordeal! *11 This is what you were seeking to hasten.' *12

Zooqoo fitnatakum haa zal lazee kuntum bihee tas ta`jiloon

*11) The word fitnah gives two meanings here: (1) 'Taste this torment of yours ; " and (2)-"taste the mischief that you had created and spread in the world. "
*12) The disbelieves' asking: "When will the Day of Retribution be?" implied: "Why is it being delayed ?" That is, "When we have denied it and have deserved the punishment for belying it, why doesn't it overtake us immediately ?" That is why when they will be burning in the Hell-fire, at that time it will be said to them: "This is that which you sought to be hastened. " This sentence by itself gives the meaning: It was Allah's kindness that He did not seize you immediately on the occurrence of disobedience from you and went on giving you respite after respite to think and understand and mend your ways. But the foolish people that you were, you did not take advantage of the respite but demanded that your doom should be hastened for you instead. Now you may see for yourself what it was that you were seeking to be hastened?"