How the Disbelievers asked about when the Resurrection would happen, and the
Response to Them Allah tells us how the disbelievers believed it unlikely that
the Hour would ever come to pass:
[وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَى
هَـذَا الْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـدِقِينَ ]
(And they say: "When is this promise if you are truthful'') This is like the
Ayah:
[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) Then Allah says:
[قُل لَّكُم مِّيعَادُ
يَوْمٍ لاَّ تَسْتَـَخِرُونَ عَنْهُ سَاعَةً وَلاَ تَسْتَقْدِمُونَ ]
(Say: "The appointment to you is for a Day, which 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 Allah says:
[إِنَّ أَجَلَ اللَّهِ
إِذَا جَآءَ لاَ يُؤَخَّرُ]
(Verily, the term of Allah when it comes, cannot be delayed) (71:4).
[وَمَا نُؤَخِّرُهُ
إِلاَّ لاًّجَلٍ مَّعْدُودٍ - يَوْمَ يَأْتِ لاَ تَكَلَّمُ نَفْسٌ إِلاَّ
بِإِذْنِهِ فَمِنْهُمْ شَقِىٌّ وَسَعِيدٌ ]
(And We delay it only for a term (already) fixed. On the Day when it comes, no
person shall speak except by His leave. Some among them will be wretched and
(others) blessed.) (11:104-105).
[وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ
كَفَرُواْ لَن نُّؤْمِنَ بِهَـذَا الْقُرْءَانِ وَلاَ بِالَّذِى بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ
وَلَوْ تَرَى إِذِ الظَّـلِمُونَ مَوْقُوفُونَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ يَرْجِعُ
بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى بَعْضٍ الْقَوْلَ يَقُولُ الَّذِينَ اسْتُضْعِفُواْ لِلَّذِينَ
اسْتَكْبَرُواْ لَوْلاَ أَنتُمْ لَكُنَّا مُؤْمِنِينَ - قَالَ الَّذِينَ
اسْتَكْبَرُواْ لِلَّذِينَ اسْتُضْعِفُواْ أَنَحْنُ صَدَدنَـكُمْ عَنِ الْهُدَى
بَعْدَ إِذْ جَآءَكُمْ بَلْ كُنتُمْ مُّجْرِمِينَ - وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ
اسْتُضْعِفُواْ لِلَّذِينَ اسْتَكْبَرُواْ بَلْ مَكْرُ الَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ إِذْ
تَأْمُرُونَنَآ أَن نَّكْفُرَ بِاللَّهِ وَنَجْعَلَ لَهُ أَندَاداً وَأَسَرُّواْ
النَّدَامَةَ لَمَّا رَأَوُاْ اْلَعَذَابَ وَجَعَلْنَا الاٌّغْلَـلَ فِى أَعْنَاقِ
الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ هَلْ يُجْزَوْنَ إِلاَّ مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ ]
(31. And those who disbelieve say: "We believe not in this Qur'an nor in that
which was before it.'' But if you could see when the wrongdoers are made to
stand before their Lord, how they will cast the (blaming) word one to another!
Those who were deemed weak will say to those who were arrogant: "Had it not
been for you, we should certainly have been believers!'') (32. And those who
were arrogant will say to those who were deemed weak: "Did we keep you back
from guidance after it had come to you Nay, but you were criminals.'') (33.
Those who were deemed weak will say to those who were arrogant: "Nay, but it
was your plotting by night and day, when you ordered us to disbelieve in Allah
and set up rivals to Him!'' And each of them (parties) will conceal their own
regrets, when they behold the torment. And We shall put iron collars round the
necks of those who disbelieved. Are they requited aught except what they used
to do)