Tafsir of Al-`Ankabut 29:53

Surah Al-Ankabut (29): 53

{ويستعجلونك بالعذاب ولولا . . . . .}

... when Allah warned them of loss (khusrān). This is the most complete form of warning, because whoever incurs a loss receives nothing in return commensurate with the magnitude of that loss; otherwise, it would not be that degree of loss, but less.

For example, if someone loses ten dirhams, he should not have received something worth half a dirham in exchange for that dirham; otherwise, the loss would not be a dirham, but half a dirham. Therefore, since they have lost their lives, no benefit will accrue to them to mitigate the punishment. If it did, that portion of their life would have some benefit, and thus the loser would have a painful punishment.

Hence, His saying: {And those, they are the losers} is a tremendous threat.

They said: "If punishment is due for us, then bring it to us," demonstrating their certainty that no punishment would come.

Then He answered that the punishment will not come to them by their asking, nor will it be hastened by their hastening. This is because Allah has set a specific term (for it) out of wisdom and mercy. Because He is Wise, His decree is not subject to change or reversal. Because He is Merciful, He is not wrathful or agitated. If it were not for that appointed term, which His wisdom necessitated and His mercy accepted, He would not possess mercy and wisdom. He would be wrathful and changeable, thus being affected by their hastening and changing due to their questioning, causing Him to hasten it. But it is not so. Therefore, the punishment will not come to them while they are asking for it, nor will the punishment be averted when they seek refuge from it, just as He the Exalted said: {Whenever they wish to escape from it because of anguish, they will be returned therein} (Al-Hajj: 22).

Then the Exalted said: {And verily, it (the punishment) will come upon them suddenly}.

The exegetes differed regarding what "it" refers to:

1. Some said: The punishment will come upon them suddenly, because punishment is the closest mentioned subject, and what they requested was the punishment, so He said it will come upon them.
2. Others said: The appointed term (al-ajal) will come upon them suddenly, because what comes suddenly is the term. As for the punishment, it will occur after the term as a direct sight.

We have already mentioned that there is wisdom in the punishment or the term coming suddenly: If its time were known, everyone would rely on its remoteness and knowledge of its timing, leading them to sin and transgress, relying on repentance before death.

His saying, the Exalted: {while they do not perceive}.

This has two possible interpretations:

1. The first: It is an emphasis on the meaning of {suddenly} (baghtatan), just as one says, "I came upon him in his heedlessness, such that he did not realize it." The phrase "such that he did not realize" emphasizes the meaning of heedlessness.
2. The second: It is a statement that carries an independent meaning, which is that the punishment will come upon them suddenly while they are unaware of this matter, thinking that the punishment will never come to them at all.

{They ask you to hasten the punishment. And indeed, Hell surrounds the disbelievers. The Day the punishment will cover them from above them and from beneath their feet, and He will say, "Taste what you used to do."}