Tafsir of Al-Hajj 22:47-49

Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage): Verses 47-49

[47] And they urge you to hasten the punishment...

It is known that when God recounted the extent of their disbelief—their mockery by demanding the hastening of punishment—He stated: {And they urge you to hasten the punishment}. This indicates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to warn them of punishment if they persisted in their disbelief, and their statement, {Why do you not bring us the angels?} confirms this.

Therefore, God Almighty said: {And never will Allah fail in His promise}. If the promise of punishment pertains to the Hereafter and not this world, then demanding its haste is akin to demanding a change in the promise (a failure to fulfill it).

Then, He clarified that a rational person should not hasten the punishment of the Hereafter by saying: {And indeed, a day with your Lord}—meaning in terms of the punishment and its severity that will befall them—{is like a thousand years of those which you count}.

There are three interpretations regarding this comparison:

1. The First View (Preferred by Abu Muslim): If they knew the nature of the Hereafter's punishment and its severity, described as lasting for such a duration (in terms of intensity), they would not hasten it.
2. The Second View: It refers to the length of the reckoning days in the Hereafter. This meaning is close to the first: short days, when experienced under duress, feel long; how much longer will days that are inherently long feel when experienced under duress? A rational person should not hasten punishment whose duration is measured this way.
3. The Third View: A single day and a thousand years are equal in relation to God, for He is the Capable One whom nothing can frustrate. If they do not find it strange that a delay of one day is possible, they should not find a delay of a thousand years strange either.

[48] And how many a town We gave respite while it was unjust...

This means: How many towns whose destruction We postponed while they persisted in their wrongdoing? They became deluded by this respite, yet We seized them by sending down punishment upon them. Furthermore, their punishment is reserved for when they ultimately arrive (in the Hereafter), which is explained by His statement: {And to Us is the final destination}.

If it is asked: Why did He say previously, {And how many a town have We destroyed while it was unjust} (Al-Hajj: 45), but here He says, {And how many a town We gave respite to while it was unjust}? (Note the difference between fa- (then/so) in the former and wa- (and) here).

The answer is: The former instance followed His statement, {So how was My warning?} (Al-Hajj: 44). However, this instance follows the structure of the preceding two clauses connected by waw (and), namely: {And never will Allah fail in His promise, and indeed, a day with your Lord is like a thousand years of those which you count}.

[49] Say, "O people, I am to you only a clear warner."

This means God commanded His Messenger to persist in warning and admonishing them, and that their demanding the hastening of punishment in jest should not prevent him from continuing his warning. He should tell them: "I was sent only to warn, and your mockery does not stop me from fulfilling that duty."

[50] So those who believe and do righteous deeds - for them is forgiveness and noble provision.

[51] But those who strive against Our verses, [seeking] to cause failure - those will be the companions of Hellfire.