Tafsir of As-Sajdah 32:28

"And they say, 'When will this victory be, if you are truthful?' Say, 'On the Day of Victory, their faith will not benefit those who disbelieved, nor will they be reprieved.' So turn away from them and wait. Indeed, they are waiting."

The Meaning of "Victory" (al-Fath): It means triumph, or the final judgment (arbitration), derived from the verse: "Our Lord, decide between us and our people in truth" (Al-A'raf: 89). The Muslims used to say, "God will grant us victory over the polytheists and judge between us and them." When the polytheists heard this, they would mockingly ask, "When will this victory be?"—meaning, at what time will it occur, "if you are truthful" in your claim that it is inevitable?

The "Day of Victory":

• It is the Day of Resurrection, the day of separation between the believers and their enemies, and the day of their triumph over them.
• It is also said to be the Day of Badr.
• Mujahid and al-Hasan (may Allah be pleased with them) said: It is the day of the Conquest of Mecca.

An Objection and Response:

• Objection: They asked about the time of the victory; how does this response (that faith will not benefit them) answer their question?
• Response: Their intent in asking was not a genuine inquiry, but rather an expression of haste, denial, and mockery. They were answered according to the nature of their intent: "Do not be hasty or mock, for it is as if you have already reached that day, and you have believed, but your faith will not benefit you, and you have sought a reprieve from the punishment, but you will not be granted one."

Clarification on Faith:

• Objection: For those who interpret "the Day of Victory" as the Conquest of Mecca or Badr, how can it be said that "faith will not benefit them," when faith did benefit the Tulaqa (those freed at the Conquest of Mecca) and others at Badr?
• Response: The meaning is that those among them who are killed will find no benefit in their faith at the moment of their destruction, just as Pharaoh’s faith did not benefit him when he was overtaken by the drowning.

"So turn away from them and wait": Wait for the victory over them and their destruction.

"Indeed, they are waiting": They are waiting for your defeat and destruction, similar to the verse: "Say, 'Wait; indeed, I, along with you, am among the waiters'" (At-Tawbah: 52). Ibn al-Sumayqa' (may Allah have mercy on him) read it as muntazarun (with a fatha on the za). This means: "Wait for their destruction, for they are deserving of having their destruction awaited," meaning they are inevitably doomed. Or, it may mean: "Wait for that [victory], for the angels in heaven are waiting for it."

From the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ):

• "Whoever recites Alif-Lam-Mim Tanzil (As-Sajdah) and Tabarak alladhi bi-yadihi al-mulk (Al-Mulk), is given a reward as if he had spent the Night of Decree (Laylat al-Qadr) in worship."
• "Whoever recites Alif-Lam-Mim Tanzil in his house, Satan will not enter his house for three days."