Surah 15

Surah 15:85

"We did not create the heavens and the earth, and whatever is between them, except in truth. Surely the Hour is coming indeed, so excuse (them) gracefully."
The World has been created for some Purpose, then the Hour will come Verses 15:85-86
Show Full Scripture Context (15:85-86) — 2 Verses
Verse 85

وَمَا خَلَقۡنَا ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ لَأٓتِيَةٞۖ فَٱصۡفَحِ ٱلصَّفۡحَ ٱلۡجَمِيلَ

We did not create the heavens and the earth, and whatever is between them, except in truth. Surely the Hour is coming indeed, so excuse (them) gracefully.

Verse 86

إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ ٱلۡخَلَّـٰقُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ

Surely your Lord – He is the Creator, the Knowing.

Quoted Scripture
"85. And We did not create the heavens and the earth and all that is between them except with the truth, and the Hour is surely coming, so overlook their faults with gracious forgiveness."

"86. Verily, your Lord is the Knowing Creator."

Allah says,

{And We did not create the heavens and the earth and all that is between them except with the truth, and the Hour is surely coming}, i.e., with justice to -

{requite those who do evil with that which they have done} [53:31]

Allah says,

{And We did not create the heaven and the earth, and all that is between them without purpose! That is what those who disbelieve think! Then let those who disbelieve be warned of the Fire!} (38:27)

{"Did you think that We created you in play, and that you would not be brought back to Us?" So exalted be Allah, the Truth, the King, none has the right to be worshipped but He, the Lord of the Honored Throne!} (23:115-116).

Then Allah informed His Prophet about the Hour, and that it will be the faults of the idolators when they insult him and reject the Message that he brings to them. This is like the Ayah,

{So turn away from them, and say: "Salam (Peace!)." But they will come to know} (43:89).

Mujahid, Qatadah and others said: "This was before fighting was prescribed". It is as they said, because this Surah was revealed in Makkah and fighting was prescribed after the Hijrah.

{Verily, your Lord is the Knowing Creator} (15:86).

This is a confirmation of the Day of Resurrection and that Allah, may He be exalted, is able to bring the Hour to pass. He is the Creator and nothing is beyond Him. He is the Knowing, Who knows what has been dispersed from people's bodies and scattered throughout the regions of the earth, as He says:

{Is not He, Who created the heavens and the earth able to create the like of them? Yes, indeed! He is the Knowing, Creator. Verily, His command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, "Be!" - and it is! So glorified and exalted is He above all that they associate with Him, and in whose Hands is the dominion of all things, and to Him you shall return.} (36:81-83).

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.