Tafsir of Hud 11:104

"And We do not delay it except..."

The Term (al-ajal): This term is applied to the entire duration of a postponement and to its final limit. People say, "The term has ended," and "The term has reached its end." They also say, "The term has arrived." In the verse, “When their term arrives” (al-A‘rāf: 34), the intended meaning is the end of the period of postponement.

Counting (al-‘add) applies only to the duration, not to its limit or conclusion. Therefore, the meaning of His saying, “And We do not delay it except for a counted term,” is: "except for the end of a counted duration," with the possessive noun (al-mudda) being omitted.

It is also recited as wa-mā yu’akhkhiruhu (And He does not delay it) with a yā’.

"The Day it comes, no soul shall speak except by His permission. And among them will be the wretched and the prosperous."