Tafseer of Abraham · Ibrahim · 14:45
And you lived among the dwellings of those who wronged themselves, and it had become clear to you how We dealt with them. And We presented for you [many] examples."
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
This is a rebuke from Allah, exalted be His mention, addressed to the polytheists (mushrikīn) of Quraysh, after they have entered the Fire on account of their denial in this world of the resurrection after death. He says to them, when they ask Him to remove the punishment from them and to grant them respite so that they might repent and turn back: أَوَلَمْ تَكُونُوا — in the world — أَقْسَمْتُمْ مِنْ قَبْلُ مَا لَكُمْ مِنْ زَوَالٍ — He says: was there for you no passing from this world to the Hereafter, and that you merely die and thereafter are not raised again?
As al-Qāsim related to us, saying: al-Ḥusayn related to us, saying: Ḥajjāj related to me, on the authority of Ibn Jurayj, on the authority of Mujāhid, who said: أَوَلَمْ تَكُونُوا أَقْسَمْتُمْ مِنْ قَبْلُ — like His word: وَأَقْسَمُوا بِاللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَانِهِمْ لا يَبْعَثُ اللَّهُ مَنْ يَمُوتُ بَلَى . Then he said: مَا لَكُمْ مِنْ زَوَالٍ — he said: the passing from this world to the Hereafter.
Muḥammad ibn ʿAmr related to me, saying: Abū ʿĀṣim related to us, saying: ʿĪsā related to us; and al-Ḥārith related to me, saying: al-Ḥasan related to us, saying: Warqāʾ related to us; and al-Ḥasan ibn Muḥammad related to us, saying: Shabāba related to us, saying: Warqāʾ related to us; and al-Muthanná related to me, saying: Abū Ḥudhayfa related to us, saying: Salama related to us; and al-Muthanná related to me, saying: Isḥāq informed us, saying: ʿAbd Allāh related to us, saying: Warqāʾ related to us — all on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid, concerning His word مَا لَكُمْ مِنْ زَوَالٍ — he said: you do not die, for Quraysh.
Al-Qāsim related to me, saying: Suwayd related to us, saying: Ibn al-Mubārak informed us, on the authority of al-Ḥakam, on the authority of ʿAmr ibn Abī Laylā, one of the Banū ʿĀmir, who said: I heard Muḥammad ibn Kaʿb al-Quraẓī say: It has reached me — or: it was mentioned to me — that the inhabitants of the Fire call out: رَبَّنَا أَخِّرْنَا إِلَى أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ نُجِبْ دَعْوَتَكَ وَنَتَّبِعِ الرُّسُلَ — whereupon they are answered: أَوَلَمْ تَكُونُوا أَقْسَمْتُمْ مِنْ قَبْلُ مَا لَكُمْ مِنْ زَوَالٍ * وَسَكَنْتُمْ فِي مَسَاكِنِ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ ... up to His word: لِتَزُولَ مِنْهُ الْجِبَالُ .