Surah 13

Surah 13:32

"Certainly messengers have been mocked before you, but I spared those who disbelieved. Then I seized them – and how was my retribution?"
Comforting the Messenger of Allah Verses 13:32
Show Full Scripture Context (13:32) — 1 Verse
Verse 32

وَلَقَدِ ٱسۡتُهۡزِئَ بِرُسُلٖ مِّن قَبۡلِكَ فَأَمۡلَيۡتُ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ ثُمَّ أَخَذۡتُهُمۡۖ فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ عِقَابِ

Certainly messengers have been mocked before you, but I spared those who disbelieved. Then I seized them – and how was my retribution?

Allah says to His Messenger, while comforting him in facing his people's denial of him,
{And indeed (many) Messengers were mocked at before you}, so you have a good example in them.
{but I granted respite to those who disbelieved,} deferred their judgment for a term appointed,
{and finally I punished them.}

with encompassing punishment. How did you obtain the news of how I gave them respite and then took them with punishment?' Allah said in another Ayah,
{And many a township did I give respite while it was given to wrongdoing. Then (in the end) I seized it (with punishment). And to Me is the (final) return (of all).} [22:48]
It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that the Prophet said,
"Verily, Allah gives respite to the unjust until when He seizes him, He never lets go of him"
The Messenger next recited this Ayah,
{Such is the punishment of your Lord when He seizes the (population of) towns while they are doing wrong. Verily, His punishment is painful, (and) severe.} [11:102]

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.