Al-Qur'an Surah An-Nahl Verse 1

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Allah’s command has (almost) come. So, do not demand that it should come sooner. Pure is He, and much higher than their ascribing partners to Him.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

The command of Allah is at hand, so do not hasten it. Glorified and Exalted is He above what they associate ˹with Him in worship˺!

Ruwwad Translation Center

Allah’s decree is coming, so do not seek to hasten it. Glorified and Exalted is He far above what they associate with Him!

A. J. Arberry

God's command comes; so seek not to hasten it. Glory be to Him! High be He exalted above that they associate with Him!

Abdul Haleem

God’s Judgement is coming, so do not ask to bring it on sooner. Glory be to Him! He is far above anything they join with Him!

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

The affair of Allah cometh, so seek not to hasten it. Hallowed be He and Exalted above that which they associate.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

(Inevitable) cometh (to pass) the Command of Allah; seek ye not then to hasten it; Glory to Him, and far is He above having the partners they ascribe unto Him!

Abul Ala Maududi

Allah's judgement has (all but) come; do not, then, call for its speedy advent. Holy is He, and far above their associating others with Him in His Divinity.

Ahmed Ali

THE DECREE of GOD will surely come; so do not try to hasten it: Too glorious and high is He for what they associate with Him.

Ahmed Raza Khan

The command of Allah is arriving soon, therefore do not seek to hasten it; Purity and Supremacy are to Him, above all the partners (they ascribe).

Ali Quli Qarai

Allah’s edict is coming! So do not seek to hasten it. Immaculate is He and exalted above [having] any partners that they ascribe [to Him].

Ali Ünal

God’s command (for the calamity to strike the unbelievers and their final destruction at the end of time) is bound to come, so (O unbelievers) do not wish it to be hastened (by asking the Messenger to bring it immediately in order only to deride and cast doubt on it). All-Glorified is He, and absolutely exalted above all that they associate with Him.

Amatul Rahman Omar

The command of Allâh (regarding the punishment to the disbelievers) has come, therefore you need not seek to expedite it before its appointed time; and He is beyond and far above (all the things) they associate (with Him).

English Literal

God`s order/command came so do not hurry/rush/hasten Him , His praise/glory and (He is) high, mighty, exalted and dignified about what they share/make partners (with God).

Faridul Haque

The command of Allah is arriving soon, therefore do not seek to hasten it; Purity and Supremacy are to Him, above all the partners (they ascribe).

Hamid S. Aziz

The Command of Allah will inevitably come to pass; seek not then to hasten it. Glorified and Exalted is He above all that which they join with Him.

Hilali & Khan

The Event (the Hour or the punishment of disbelievers and polytheists or the Islamic laws or commandments), ordained by Allah will come to pass, so seek not to hasten it. Glorified and Exalted be He above all that they associate as partners with Him.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And serve thy Lord, until there comes to thee that which is certain.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Allah's commandment has come, therefore do not desire to hasten it; glory be to Him, and highly exalted be He above what they associate (with Him).

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

The commandment of Allah will come to pass, so seek not ye to hasten it. Glorified and Exalted be He above all that they associate (with Him).

Muhammad Sarwar

God's help will certainly support (the believers), so pagans do not (seek) to hasten it. God is too Glorious and Exalted to be considered equal to idols.

Qaribullah & Darwish

The Command of Allah will surely come; do not seek to hasten it. Highly exalted is He above that they associate with Him.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

The Event ordained by Allah has indeed come, so do not seek to hasten it. Glorified and Exalted be He above all that they associate as partners with Him.

Wahiduddin Khan

The decree of God is at hand, so do not seek to hasten it. Holy is He, and exalted far above what they associate with Him.

Talal Itani

The command of God has come, so do not rush it. Glory be to Him; exalted above what they associate.

Tafsir jalalayn

When the idolaters found chastisement slow in coming, the following was revealed; God's commandment has come, that is, the Hour [has come] ([this verb] at is in the past tense because it means that [the event therein described] will come to pass) in other words, it [God's commandment] is close at hand, so do not seek to hasten it, do not demand it before its [due] time, for it will come to pass without doubt. Glory be to Him -- an affirmation of His transcendence -- and exalted be He above what they associate, with Him, in the way of others.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Warning about the approach of the Hour

Allah says;

أَتَى أَمْرُ اللّهِ


The Event ordained by Allah has indeed come,

Allah is informing about the approach of the Hour in the past tense (in Arabic) in order to confirm that it will undoubtedly come to pass.

This is like the following Ayat, in which the verbs appear in the past tense in Arabic;

اقْتَرَبَ لِلنَّاسِ حِسَـبُهُمْ وَهُمْ فِى غَفْلَةٍ مُّعْرِضُونَ

Mankind's reckoning has drawn near them, while they turn away in heedlessness. (21;1)

اقْتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَةُ وَانشَقَّ الْقَمَرُ

The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has been cleft. (54;1)

فَلَ تَسْتَعْجِلُوهُ

so do not seek to hasten it.

means, what was far is now near, so do not try to rush it. As Allah said,

وَيَسْتَعْجِلُونَكَ بِالْعَذَابِ وَلَوْلَا أَجَلٌ مُّسَمًّى لَّجَأءَهُمُ الْعَذَابُ وَلَيَأْتِيَنَّهُمْ بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ

يَسْتَعْجِلُونَكَ بِالْعَذَابِ وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمُحِيطَةٌ بِالْكَـفِرِينَ

And they ask you to hasten the torment (for them), and had it not been for a term appointed, the torment would certainly have come to them. And surely, it will come upon them suddenly while they are unaware!

They ask you to hasten on the torment. And verily! Hell, of a surety, will encompass the disbelievers. (29;53-54)

Ibn Abi Hatim reported from Uqbah bin Amir that the Messenger of Allah said;

تَطْلُعُ عَلَيْكُمْ عِنْدَ السَّاعَةِ سَحَابَةٌ سَوْدَاءُ مِنَ الْمَغْرِبِ مِثْلَ التُّرْسِ فَمَا تَزَالُ تَرْتَفِعُ فِي السَّمَاءِ ثُمَّ يُنَادِي مُنَادٍ فِيهَا يَا أَيُّهَاالنَّاسُ

فَيُقْبِلُ النَّاسُ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ هَلْ سَمِعْتُمْ

فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ نَعَمْ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَشُكُّ

ثُمَّ يُنَادِي الثَّانِيَةَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ

فَيَقُولُ النَّاسُ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ هَلْ سَمِعْتُمْ

فَيَقُولُونَ نَعَمْ

ثُمَّ يُنَادِي الثَّالِثَةَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ

أَتَى أَمْرُ اللهِ فَلَ تَسْتَعْجِلُوه

When the Hour approaches, a black cloud resembling a shield will emerge upon from the west. It will continue rising in the sky, then a voice will call out, `O mankind!'

The people will say to one another, `Did you hear that!'

Some will say, `yes', but others will doubt it.

Then a second call will come, `O mankind!'

The people will say to one another, `Did you hear that!'

And they will say, `Yes.'

Then a third call will come, `O mankind!'

The Event ordained by Allah has indeed come, so do not seek to hasten it.'

The Messenger of Allah said;

فَوَ الَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَيْنِ لَيَنْشُرَانِ الثَّوبَ فَمَا يَطْوِيَانِهِ أَبَدًا

وَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَمُدَّنَّ حَوْضَهُ فَمَا يَسْقِي فِيهِ شَيْيًا أَبَدًا

وَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَحْلُبُ نَاقَتَهُ فَمَا يَشْرِبُهُ أَبَدًا

قَالَ وَيَشْتَغِلُ النَّاس

"By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, two men will spread out a cloth, but will never refold it;

a man will prepare his trough, but will never water his animals from it;

and a man will milk his camel, but will never drink the milk."

Then he said, "The people will be distracted."

Then Allah tells us that He is free from their allegations of partners to their worship of idols, and making equals for Him. Glorified and exalted be He far above that. These are the people who deny the Hour, so He says;

سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ



Glorified and Exalted be He above all that they associate as partners with Him