Surah Yunus, Verse 49/50

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*Surah Yunus, Verse 49:*

قُل لَّا أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِي ضَرًّا وَلَا نَفْعًا إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلٌ إِذَا جَاءَ أَجَلُهُمْ فَلَا يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ سَاعَةً وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ

Say (O Muhammad SAW): "I have no power over any harm or profit to myself except what Allah may will. For every Ummah (a community or a nation), there is a term appointed; when their term is reached, neither can they delay it nor can they advance it an hour (or a moment)." (Tafsir Al-Qurtubi).

#COMMENTARY

This repeats chapter vii, verse 34, but the significance is different in the two contexts. Here the reply is to the Unbelievers' mocking incredulity as to whether there is such a thing as a Hereafter: they suggest to the Prophet of ALLĀH that if his claim to inspiration from Almighty ALLĀH is true, he should get them punished at once for rejecting him. In chapter vii, verse 34 the reference is to the punishment of iniquity as described in chapter vii, verse 33: sin is not necessarily punished at once: every people or generation gets a chance; when their term is fulfilled, the final adjustment is made.

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*Surah Yunus, Verse 50:*

قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَتَاكُمْ عَذَابُهُ بَيَاتًا أَوْ نَهَارًا مَّاذَا يَسْتَعْجِلُ مِنْهُ الْمُجْرِمُونَ

Say: "Tell me, - if His torment should come to you by night or by day, - which portion thereof would the Mujrimun (disbelievers, polytheists, sinners, criminals) hasten on?"

#COMMENTARY

The mockery of Unbelievers will be turned into panic when the wrath of Almighty ALLĀH descends on them. It may do so suddenly, by night or by day, when they least expect it. Will they then say of any bit of it: "Let it be hastened"?