Tafseer of The Prophets · Al-Anbiyaa · 21:1
[The time of] their account has approached for the people, while they are in heedlessness turning away.
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.
The Exalted says: the reckoning of mankind for their deeds which they performed in their worldly life, and for the favours which He bestowed upon them therein — in their bodies, their forms, their food, their drink, their clothing, and other favours of His among them — and His questioning of them as to what they did with all that: whether they obeyed Him therein and held fast to His commandments and prohibitions in all of that, or disobeyed Him and transgressed His command therein — has drawn near. وَهُمْ فِي غَفْلَةٍ مُعْرِضُونَ: this means: "And they, in the world, with regard to what Allah will do with them on the Day of Resurrection, and with regard to the nearness of His reckoning with them and its drawing close to them, are in a state of heedlessness and inattention, and they have turned away from it — they have neglected to reflect upon it and to make themselves ready and prepared for it, out of ignorance of the tremendous calamity and severe terror that awaits them on that occasion."
In accordance with what we have said concerning the explanation of His saying وَهُمْ فِي غَفْلَةٍ مُعْرِضُونَ, the scholars of exegesis also spoke, and there is a narration from the Prophet ﷺ.
Mention of those who said this:
We were related to by Muḥammad ibn al-Muthannā, who said: Abū l-Walīd related to us, who said: Abū Muʿāwiya related to me, who said: al-Aʿmash informed us, on the authority of Abū Ṣāliḥ, on the authority of Abū Hurayra, on the authority of the Prophet ﷺ, concerning وَهُمْ فِي غَفْلَةٍ مُعْرِضُونَ: he said: "In the world."
