Tafsir of Ad-Dhariyat 51:13

Surah Adh-Dhariyat (51): Verse 13

Original Text Segment: يوم هم على . . . . .

Translation:

This statement, "The Day they are over the Fire being tried/tormented," is subject to two possible interpretations:

First Interpretation:

It serves as the response to their question, "{When is the Promise?}"

Just as they did not ask the question seeking genuine knowledge, the response is not given as a clear explanation. Instead, He says: "The Day they are over the Fire being tried/tormented."

Their ignorance regarding the second matter (the torment) is stronger than their ignorance regarding the first (the timing). It is not permissible for the answer to be about something more obscure.

• Analogy: If someone asks, "When will Zayd arrive?" and the respondent replies, "The day his companion arrives," this answer is only valid if it is in the form of an answer but not truly one, unless the arrival time of the companion is known.
• Another Analogy: If someone asks, "How long will you delay fulfilling your promises?" and angrily replies, "Until the most ill-fated day for you!" Both statements are in the form of a question and an answer, but the first is not truly a question, and the second is not truly an answer.

Similarly here, saying, "The Day they are over the Fire being tried/tormented," is a confrontation against their mockery concerning the promised delay, rather than being a direct answer regarding the timing of its occurrence.

Second Interpretation:

It is the beginning of a complete statement, which is then followed by His saying: