Tafseer of The Ant · An-Naml · 27:71
And they say, "When is [the fulfillment of] this promise, if you should be truthful?"
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.
Allah, exalted be His remembrance, says: And the polytheists of your people — O Muḥammad — who deny you concerning what you have brought them from your Lord, say: مَتَى when will هَذَا الْوَعْدُ (this promise) come to pass — the threat that you promise us while, according to you, it will inevitably descend upon us? إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ (if you are truthful) in what you promise us? قُلْ عَسَى أَنْ يَكُونَ رَدِفَ لَكُمْ (Say: perhaps it is already drawing near to you): Allah, exalted be His glory, says: Say to them — O Muḥammad: Perhaps there has already drawn near and come close to you بَعْضُ الَّذِي تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ (a part of that which you ask to be hastened) of the punishment of Allah.
In the manner that we have mentioned concerning this, the exegetes spoke.
Mention of those who said that:
ʿAlī related to me, saying: ʿAbdullāh related to us, saying: Muʿāwiya related to me, on the authority of ʿAlī, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, concerning His word: قُلْ عَسَى أَنْ يَكُونَ رَدِفَ لَكُمْ (Say: perhaps it is already drawing near to you): he says: it has already drawn near to you.
