Tafseer Ibn Kathir of YUNUS [48]

48. And they say: ”When will be this promise (the torment or the Day of Resurrection), if you speak the truth'' 49. Say: ”I have no power over any harm or profit for myself except what Allah may will. For every Ummah, there is a term appointed; when their term comes, neither can they delay it nor can they advance it an hour (or a moment).'' 50. Say: ”Tell me, if His torment should come to you by night or by day, which portion thereof would the criminals hasten on'' 51. Is it then that when it has actually befallen, you will believe in it What! Now (you believe) And you used (aforetime) to hasten it on!'' 52. Then it will be said to them who wronged themselves: ”Taste you the everlasting torment! Are you recompensed (aught) save what you used to earn'' Allah told us about the idolators who reject faith through their demand that the punishment be hastened, inquiring about the time of punishment. The response to such question is not inherently beneficial, yet they inquired anyway. Allah said:

(Those who believe not therein seek to hasten it, while those who believe are fearful of it, and know that it is the very truth.) ï´¿42:18ï´¾ They know that it is the truth for it is definitely going to happen. It is going to take place even if they have no idea when it will occur. This is why Allah instructed His Messenger to answer them saying:

(Say: ”I have no power over any harm or profit to myself.'') ﴿10:49, 7:188﴾ I will not say except what He has taught me. I also have no authority over anything that Allah has not shown to me. I am Allah's servant and His Messenger to you. I was told that the Hour is going to come, but He has not told me when it will occur. But,

(For every Ummah, there is a term appointed;) meaning that for every generation or community there is a set term appointed for them. When the end of that term approaches,

(neither can they delay it nor can they advance it an hour (or a moment). ) This is similar to what Allah said in another Ayah:

(And Allah grants respite to none when his appointed time (death) comes.) ï´¿63:11ï´¾ Allah instructed His Messenger to tell the people that His punishment would come suddenly. He said:

(Say: ”Tell me, if His torment should come to you by night or by day, which portion thereof would the criminals hasten on Is it then that when it has actually befallen, you will believe in it What! Now (you believe) And you used (aforetime) to hasten it on!'') When the punishment befalls them, they will say:

(”Our Lord! We have now seen and heard.'') (32:12) Allah also said:

(So when they saw Our punishment, they said: ”We believe in Allah alone and reject (all) that we used to associate with Him as (His) partners. Then their faith could not avail them when they saw Our punishment. (Like) this has been the way of Allah in dealing with His servants. And there the disbelievers lost utterly (when Our torment covered them).'')﴿40:84-85﴾

(Then it will be said to them who wronged themselves: ”Taste you the everlasting torment!'') This will be said to them on the Day of Resurrection, blaming and rebuking them. As Allah said in another Ayah:

(The Day when they will be pushed down by force to the fire of Hell, with a horrible, forceful pushing. This is the Fire that you used to belie. Is this magic or do you not see Taste you therein its heat and whether you are patient of it or impatient of it, it is all the same. You are only being requited for what you used to do.) ï´¿52:13-16ï´¾