Allah told us about the idolators 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:
[يَسْتَعْجِلُ بِهَا
الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهَا وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مُشْفِقُونَ مِنْهَا
وَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهَا الْحَقُّ]
(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:
[قُل لاَّ أَمْلِكُ
لِنَفْسِى ضَرًّا وَلاَ نَفْعًا]
(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,
[لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ
أَجَلٌ]
(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,
[فَلاَ
يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ سَاعَةً وَلاَ يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ]
(neither can they delay it nor can they advance it an hour (or a moment). )
This is similar to what Allah said in another Ayah:
[وَلَن يُؤَخِّرَ
اللَّهُ نَفْساً إِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهَآ]
(And Allah grants respite to none when his appointed time (death) comes.)
[63:11] Allah instructed His Messenger to tell the people that His punishment
would come suddenly. He said:
[قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُمْ
إِنْ أَتَاكُمْ عَذَابُهُ بَيَاتًا أَوْ نَهَارًا مَّاذَا يَسْتَعْجِلُ مِنْهُ
الْمُجْرِمُونَ - أَثُمَّ إِذَا مَا وَقَعَ ءَامَنْتُمْ بِهِ ءَآلْنَ وَقَدْ كُنتُم
بِهِ تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ ]
(Say: "Tell me, if His torment should come to you by night or by day, which
portion thereof would the criminals hasten on Is it then that when it has
actually befallen, you will believe in it What! Now (you believe) And you used
(aforetime) to hasten it on!'') When the punishment befalls them, they will say:
[رَبَّنَآ
أَبْصَرْنَا وَسَمِعْنَا]
("Our Lord! We have now seen and heard.'') (32:12) Allah also said:
[فَلَمَّا رَأَوْاْ
بَأْسَنَا قَالُواْ ءَامَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ وَكَـفَرْنَا بِمَا كُنَّا بِهِ
مُشْرِكِينَ - فَلَمْ يَكُ يَنفَعُهُمْ إِيمَـنُهُمْ لَمَّا رَأَوْاْ بَأْسَنَا
سُنَّةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِى قَدْ خَلَتْ فِى عِبَادِهِ وَخَسِرَ هُنَالِكَ
الْكَـفِرُونَ ]
(So when they saw Our punishment, they said: "We believe in Allah alone and
reject (all) that we used to associate with Him as (His) partners. Then their
faith could not avail them when they saw Our punishment. (Like) this has been
the way of Allah in dealing with His servants. And there the disbelievers lost
utterly (when Our torment covered them).'')[40:84-85]
[ثُمَّ قِيلَ
لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ ذُوقُواْ عَذَابَ الْخُلْدِ]
(Then it will be said to them who wronged themselves: "Taste you the
everlasting torment!'') This will be said to them on the Day of Resurrection,
blaming and rebuking them. As Allah said in another Ayah:
[يَوْمَ يُدَعُّونَ
إِلَى نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ دَعًّا - هَـذِهِ النَّارُ الَّتِى كُنتُم بِهَا
تُكَذِّبُونَ - أَفَسِحْرٌ هَـذَا أَمْ أَنتُمْ لاَ تُبْصِرُونَ - اصْلَوْهَا
فَاصْبِرُواْ أَوْ لاَ تَصْبِرُواْ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيْكُمْ إِنَّمَا تُجْزَوْنَ مَا
كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ]
(The Day when they will be pushed down by force to the fire of Hell, with a
horrible, forceful pushing. This is the Fire that you used to belie. Is this
magic or do you not see Taste you therein its heat and whether you are patient
of it or impatient of it, it is all the same. You are only being requited for
what you used to do.) [52:13-16]
[وَيَسْتَنْبِئُونَكَ
أَحَقٌّ هُوَ قُلْ إِى وَرَبِّى إِنَّهُ لَحَقٌّ وَمَآ أَنتُمْ بِمُعْجِزِينَ -
وَلَوْ أَنَّ لِكُلِّ نَفْسٍ ظَلَمَتْ مَا فِى الاٌّرْضِ لاَفْتَدَتْ بِهِ
وَأَسَرُّواْ النَّدَامَةَ لَمَّا رَأَوُاْ الْعَذَابَ وَقُضِىَ بَيْنَهُمْ
بِالْقِسْطِ وَهُمْ لاَ يُظْلَمُونَ ]
(53. And they ask you to inform them (saying): "Is it true'' Say: "Yes! By my
Lord! It is the very truth! And you cannot escape it!'') (54. And if every
person who had wronged, possessed all that is on the earth and sought to ransom
himself therewith (it will not be accepted), and they would feel in their hearts
regret when they see the torment, and they will be judged with justice, and no
wrong will be done unto them.)
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