Tafseer Ibn Kathir of AS SAJDAH [28]

28. They say: ”When will this Fath be, if you are telling the truth'' 29. Say: ”On the Day of Al-Fath, no profit will it be to those who disbelieve if they (then) believe! Nor will they be granted a respite.'' 30. So turn aside from them and await, verily, they (too) are awaiting. Allah tells us how the disbelievers sought to hasten on the punishment, and to bring the wrath and vengeance of Allah upon themselves, because they thought this punishment would never happen, and because of their disbelief and stubbornness.

(They say: ”When will this Fath be...'') meaning, `when will you prevail over us, O Muhammad, since you claim that there will be a time when you will gain the upper hand over us and take your revenge on us, so when will that happen All we see of you and your companions is that you are hiding, afraid and humiliated.' Allah says:

(Say: ”On the Day of Al-Fath...'') meaning, `when the wrath and punishment of Allah befall you, in this world and the next,'

(no profit will it be to those who disbelieve if they (then) believe! Nor will they be granted a respite.) This is like the Ayah,

(Then when their Messengers came to them with clear proofs, they were glad with that which they had of the knowledge...) (40:83-85) Those who claim that this refers to the conquest of Makkah go too far, and have made a grievous mistake, for on the day of the conquest of Makkah, the Messenger of Allah accepted the Islam of the freed Makkan prisoners-of-war, who numbered nearly two thousand. If what was meant by this Ayah was the conquest of Makkah, he would not have accepted their Islam, because Allah says:

(Say: ”On the Day of Al-Fath, no profit will it be to those who disbelieve if they (then) believe! Nor will they be granted a respite.'') What is meant by Al-Fath here is Judgement, as in the Ayat:

(ï´¿Nuh said:ï´¾ So Aftah (judge) between me and them) (26:118). and:

(Say: ”Our Lord will assemble us all together, then He will judge between us with truth'') (34:26).

(And they sought judgement and every obstinate, arrogant dictator was brought to a complete loss and destruction. ) (14:15)

(although aforetime they had invoked Allah to pass judgement over those who disbelieved) (2:89)

(If you ask for a judgement, now has the judgement come unto you) (8:19). Then Allah says:

(So turn aside from them and await, verily, they (too) are awaiting.) meaning, `turn away from these idolators, and convey that which has been revealed to you from your Lord.' This is like the Ayah,

(Follow what has been revealed to you from your Lord, there is no God but Him.) (6:106) `Wait until Allah fulfills that which He has promised you, and grants you victory over those who oppose you, for He never breaks His promise.'

(verily, they (too) are awaiting.) means, `you are waiting, and they are waiting and plotting against you,'

(Or do they say: ”A poet! We await for him some calamity by time!'') (52:30). `You will see the consequences of your patience towards them, and the fulfillment of the promise of your Lord in your victory over them, and they will see the consequences of their wait for something bad to befall you and your Companions, in that Allah's punishment will come upon them.' Sufficient unto us is Allah, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs. This is the end of the Tafsir of Surat As-Sajdah.