Tafseer of The Prophets · Al-Anbiyaa · 21:109
But if they turn away, then say, "I have announced to [all of] you equally. And I know not whether near or far is that which you are promised.
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: "If these polytheists, O Muḥammad, turn away from acknowledging the faith (īmān) — that there is for them only one God — and they turn away from it and refuse to heed it, then say to them: قَدْ آذَنْتُكُمْ عَلَى سَوَاءٍ — I inform you that you and I know equally that between us there is war and neither peace nor rest."
By this were meant the kinsfolk of the Prophet of Allah ﷺ from Quraysh.
As we were told by al-Qāsim, who said: al-Ḥusayn related to us, who said: Ḥajjāj related to me, on the authority of Ibn Jurayj, concerning His word فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَقُلْ آذَنْتُكُمْ عَلَى سَوَاءٍ: "If they turn away — meaning by that Quraysh."
And His word وَإِنْ أَدْرِي أَقَرِيبٌ أَمْ بَعِيدٌ مَا تُوعَدُونَ: the Exalted says to His Prophet: "Say: I do not know when the time is that the punishment of Allah which you have been promised will descend upon you and He takes vengeance upon you — is it soon that it will descend or yet far off?"
In accordance with what we have said about this, the scholars of exegesis also spoke.
Mention of those who said this:
We were told by al-Qāsim, who said: al-Ḥusayn related to us, who said: Ḥajjāj related to me, on the authority of Ibn Jurayj, concerning وَإِنْ أَدْرِي أَقَرِيبٌ أَمْ بَعِيدٌ مَا تُوعَدُونَ: he said: "The appointed term (al-ajal)."
