Tafsir of Ya seen 36:48

Surah Ya-Sin (36): Verse 48

And they say, "When is this promise?"

This refers to what they believed: that the piety commanded in the verse, "And when it is said to them, 'Fear [Allah]'" (36:45), and the spending mentioned in the verse, "And when it is said to them, 'Spend'" (36:47), are useless because the promise has no reality.

The phrase "When is this promise?" means: When will what was promised occur? In this regard, there are several issues:

The word idha (when/if) in the preceding context implies a condition requiring a consequence (a jawab). However, matā (when) is an interrogative, which cannot serve as the consequence.

The Answer: We say that idha here is interrogative in form, but in meaning, it is a denial/rejection. It is as if they are saying: "If you are truthful about the resurrection occurring, then tell us when it will happen."

The Answer: The apparent addressees are the Prophets. When they denied the Prophethood, the disbelievers said, "If you, O those who claim prophethood, are truthful, then inform us when it will be."

There is no explicit promise mentioned immediately preceding this verse. To what promise does "this promise" refer?

The Answer: It refers to the promise of the Hour mentioned in the verse, "And when it is said to them, 'Fear what is before you and what is behind you'" (36:45). Alternatively, we can say it is an understood promise, even if not explicitly mentioned, because the Prophets were constantly reminding them of the Hour, the Reckoning, the reward, and the punishment.

Surah Ya-Sin (36): Verses 49–51

They look for nothing but a single blast, which will seize them while they are preoccupied. So they will not be able to make a bequest, nor will they return to their families.