Surah 34

Surah 34:29

"They say, ‘When (will) this promise (come to pass), if you are truthful?’"
The Prophet was sent to all of Mankind Verses 34:28-30
Show Full Scripture Context (34:28-30) — 3 Verses
Verse 28

وَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَٰكَ إِلَّا كَآفَّةٗ لِّلنَّاسِ بَشِيرٗا وَنَذِيرٗا وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ

We have sent you only as a bringer of good news and a warner to the people all together. But most of the people do not know (it).

Verse 29

وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَٰذَا ٱلۡوَعۡدُ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ

They say, ‘When (will) this promise (come to pass), if you are truthful?’

Verse 30

قُل لَّكُم مِّيعَادُ يَوۡمٖ لَّا تَسۡتَـٔۡخِرُونَ عَنۡهُ سَاعَةٗ وَلَا تَسۡتَقۡدِمُونَ

Say: ‘For you (there is) the appointment of a Day. You will not delay it by an hour, nor will you advance (it by an hour).’

Allah says to His servant and Messenger Muhammad:
{And We have not sent you except as a giver of glad tidings and a wamer to all mankind, }

i.e., to all of creation among those who are accountable for their deeds. This is like the Ayah:

{Say: "O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah."} (7:158)
{Blessed be He Who sent down the Criterion to His servant that he may be a wamer to the all creatures.} (25:1)

Quoted Scripture
"a giver of glad tidings and a wamer} means, “to bring the glad tidings of Paradise to those who obey you and to warn of the fire of Hell to those who disobey you.’ This is like the Ayat {and most of men know not."

{And most of mankind will not believe even if you desire it eagerly.} (12:103)
{And if you obey most of those on the earth, they will mislead you far away from Allah's path} (6:116).

Muhammad bin Ka*b said concerning the Ayah:
{And We have not sent you except to all mankind}

meaning, to all the people. Qatadah said concerning this Ayah, “Allah, may He be exalted, sent Muhammad to both the Arabs and the non-Arabs, so the most honored of them with Allah is the one who is most obedient to Allah.”

Allah says:
{Those who believe not therein seek to hasten it, while those who believe are fearful of it, and kttoiv that it is the very truth...} (42:18)

Then Allah says:
{Say : " The appointment to you is for a Day, whiclt you cannot for an hour move back nor forward."}

meaning, ‘you have an appointed time which is fixed and cannot be changed or altered. When it comes, you will not be able to put it back or bring it forward,’ as
{Verily, the term of Allah when it comes, cannot be delayed} (71:4).

{And We delay it only Jbr a term (already) fixed. On the Day when it comes, no person slwll speak except by His leave. Some among them will be wretched and (others) blessed.} (11:104-105).

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.