Surah 10:51
Show Full Scripture Context (10:48-52) — 5 Verses
وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَٰذَا ٱلۡوَعۡدُ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ
They say, ‘When (will) this promise (come to pass), if you are truthful?’
قُل لَّآ أَمۡلِكُ لِنَفۡسِي ضَرّٗا وَلَا نَفۡعًا إِلَّا مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُۗ لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلٌۚ إِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمۡ فَلَا يَسۡتَـٔۡخِرُونَ سَاعَةٗ وَلَا يَسۡتَقۡدِمُونَ
Say: ‘I do not have power to (cause) myself harm or benefit – except whatever God pleases. For every community (there is) a time. When their time comes, they will not delay (it) by an hour, nor will they advance (it by an hour).’
قُلۡ أَرَءَيۡتُمۡ إِنۡ أَتَىٰكُمۡ عَذَابُهُۥ بَيَٰتًا أَوۡ نَهَارٗا مَّاذَا يَسۡتَعۡجِلُ مِنۡهُ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمُونَ
Say: ‘Do you see? If His punishment comes to you by night or by day, what (part) of it would the sinners seek to hurry?
أَثُمَّ إِذَا مَا وَقَعَ ءَامَنتُم بِهِۦٓۚ ءَآلۡـَٰٔنَ وَقَدۡ كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَسۡتَعۡجِلُونَ
When it falls, will you believe in it? Now? When you had been seeking to hurry it?’
ثُمَّ قِيلَ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ ذُوقُواْ عَذَابَ ٱلۡخُلۡدِ هَلۡ تُجۡزَوۡنَ إِلَّا بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَكۡسِبُونَ
Then it will be said to those who have done evil: ‘Taste the punishment of eternity! Are you being repaid (for anything) except for what you have earned?’
Allah told us about the idolaters who reject faith through their demand that the punishment be hastened, inquiring about the time of punishment. The response to such question is not inherently beneficial, yet they inquired anyway. Allah said: {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.} [42:18]. They know that it is the truth for it is definitely going to happen. It is going to take place even if they have no idea when it will occur. This is why Allah instructed His Messenger to answer them saying: {Say: "I have no power over any harm or profit to myself."} [10:49, 7:188]. I will not say except what He has taught me. I also have no authority over anything that Allah has not shown to me. I am Allah's servant and His Messenger to you. I was told that the Hour is going to come, but He has not told me when it will occur. But, {For every Ummah, there is a term appointed;} meaning that for every generation or community there is a set term appointed for them. When the end of that term approaches, {neither can they delay it nor can they advance it an hour (or a moment).}