Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Ahqaf Verse 35

Mufti Taqi Usmani

So, (O prophet,) observe patience, as the resolute messengers observed patience, and be not in haste about them. The Day they will see what they are promised, (it will be) as if they did not stay (in the world) more than an hour in a single day. This is a message. So, none will be destroyed except the sinners.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

So endure patiently, as did the Messengers of Firm Resolve.[[ Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muḥammad are called the Messengers of Firm Resolve.]] And do not ˹seek to˺ hasten ˹the torment˺ for the deniers. On the Day they see what they have been threatened with, it will be as if they had only stayed ˹in this world˺ for an hour of a day.[[ i.e., only for a very short period of time. ]] ˹This is˺ a ˹sufficient˺ warning! Then, will anyone be destroyed except the rebellious people?

Ruwwad Translation Center

So be patient, as the Messengers of Firm Resolve were patient, and do not seek to hasten [punishment] for them. On the Day when they see what they were warned of, it will be as if they had only stayed [in this world] for an hour of a day. This is a warning. Will anyone be destroyed except the rebellious people?

A. J. Arberry

So be thou patient, as the Messengers possessed of constancy were also patient. Seek not to hasten it for them -- it shall be as if on the day they see that they are promised, they had not tarried but for an hour of a single day. A Message to be delivered! And shall any be destroyed but the people of the ungodly?

Abdul Haleem

Be steadfast [Muhammad], like those messengers of firm resolve. Do not seek to hasten the punishment for the disbelievers: on the Day they see what they had been warned about, it will seem to them that they lingered no more than a single hour of a single day [in this life]. This is a warning. Shall any be destroyed except the defiant?

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Bear thou then with patience even as the apostles, endued with resolution bear with patience, and seek not to hasten on for them. On the Day whereon they will behold that wherewith they are threatened, it will seem to them as though they had tarried but an hour of the day. A proclamation this: so none will be destroyed save the nation of transgressors.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Therefore patiently persevere, as did (all) messengers of inflexible purpose; and be in no haste about the (Unbelievers). On the Day that they see the (Punishment) promised them, (it will be) as if they had not tarried more than an hour in a single day. (Thine but) to proclaim the Message; but shall any be destroyed except those who transgress?

Abul Ala Maududi

So bear with patience, (O Prophet), even as the Messengers endowed with firmness of resolve (before you) bore with patience, and do not be hasty in their regard. The Day when they see what they had been warned against they will feel as though they had remained in the world no more than an hour of a day. (The Truth has been conveyed.) Will any, then, suffer perdition except those who disobey?

Ahmed Ali

So bear with patience, as the apostles who were constant, bore; and do not be hasty (in demanding punishment) for them. On the day they see what they had been foretold, (they will realise) that they did not stay in the world but only an hour of the day. This is the message to be conveyed: Shall any perish but the ungodly?

Ahmed Raza Khan

Therefore patiently endure (O dear Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him) like the courageous Noble Messengers had endured, and do not be impatient for them; on the day when they see what they are promised, it will be as if they had not stayed on earth except part of a day; this is to be conveyed; will anyone be destroyed, except the disobedient?

Ali Quli Qarai

So be patient just as the resolute among the apostles were patient, and do not seek to hasten [the punishment] for them. The day when they see what they are promised, [it will be] as though they had remained [in the world] only an hour of a day. This is a proclamation. So shall anyone be destroyed except the transgressing lot?

Ali Ünal

So, be patient (O Messenger), (with their rejection of faith and with whatever they do), just as those of greatest steadfastness and resolution among the Messengers were patient, and do not seek to hasten (the judgment on) them. The Day when they see what they are threatened with, (they will feel) as if they had not stayed (in the world) save a short while of the day only. The message has been conveyed. Will, then, any be destroyed save the people who transgress the bounds (in belief and action)?

Amatul Rahman Omar

Patiently persevere then (O Prophet!) as did all the Messengers possessed of high-resolve did, and do not seek to hasten on for them (- the disbelievers, the doom which they are being promised). On the day when they will witness that they have been threatened with (they will feel) as if they have not tarried (in this world) but for an hour of a day. (It is) enough as delivery (of fair-warning from God). Who shall be destroyed now, if not the disobedient sinful people?

English Literal

So be patient as/like (owners) of the decisiveness/determination from the messengers became patient, and do not hurry/hasten for them, a day/time they see/understand what they are being promised (it is) as if they did not stay/remain/wait except an hour from daytime, (this is) information/communication, so do (any) except the nation the debauchers be made to die/be destroyed ?371

Faridul Haque

Therefore patiently endure (O dear Prophet Mohammed - peace and blessings be upon him) like the courageous Noble Messengers had endured, and do not be impatient for them; on the day when they see what they are promised, it will be as if they had not stayed on earth except part of a day; this is to be conveyed; will anyone be destroyed, except the disobedient?

Hamid S. Aziz

Therefore persevere patiently (O Muhammad) as did the messengers endowed with constancy, and do not seek to hasten for them (their doom). On the day that they shall see what they are promised they shall be as if they had not waited save an hour of the day. A sufficient exposition! Shall then any be destroyed save the transgressing people?

Hilali & Khan

Therefore be patient (O Muhammad SAW) as did the Messengers of strong will and be in no haste about them (disbelievers). On the Day when they will see that (torment) with which they are promised (i.e. threatened, it will be) as if they had not stayed more than an hour in a single day. (O mankind! This Quran is sufficient as) a clear Message (or proclamation to save yourself from destruction). But shall any be destroyed except the people who are Al-Fasiqun (the rebellious, disobedient to Allah).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And on the day when those who disbelieve are brought before the Fire: Is it not true? They will say: Yea, by our Lord! He will say: Then taste the chastisement, because you disbelieved.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Therefore bear up patiently as did the apostles endowed with constancy bear up with patience and do not seek to hasten for them (their doom). On the day that they shall see what they are promised they shall be as if they had not tarried save an hour of the day. A sufficient exposition! Shall then any be destroyed save the transgressing people?

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Then have patience (O Muhammad) even as the stout of heart among the messengers (of old) had patience, and seek not to hasten on (the doom) for them. On the day when they see that which they are promised (it will seem to them) as though they had tarried but an hour of daylight. A clear message. Shall any be destroyed save evil-living folk?

Muhammad Sarwar

(Muhammad), exercise patience as did the steadfast Messengers. Do not try to make them suffer the torment immediately; on the day when they will see the torment with which they were threatened, they will think that they had lived no more than an hour. The message has been delivered. No one else will be destroyed except the evil doing people.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Be patient, as the Messengers of might were patient, and do not hasten it for them. On the Day when they see what they have been promised, it will be as if they did not stay except an hour of a day. (This Koran is) a Conveyance! Shall any be destroyed except the nation of evildoers?

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Therefore be patient as did those of determination among the Messengers and be in no hurry for them. On the Day when they will see what they are promised, it will be as though they had not remained (in the world) except an hour in a day. (This is) a clear Message. But will any be destroyed except the defiantly rebellious people

Wahiduddin Khan

Have patience, then, as had the steadfast Messengers before you; and be in no haste about them. On the Day when they see what they are threatened with, it will appear to them as though they had not tarried longer than an hour of a day. [Your responsibility is] to deliver the message: and none but the disobedient shall be destroyed.

Talal Itani

So be patient, as the messengers with resolve were patient, and do not be hasty regarding them. On the Day when they witness what they are promised, it will seem as if they had lasted only for an hour of a day. A proclamation: Will any be destroyed except the sinful people?

Tafsir jalalayn

So endure [with patience], the harm done [to you] by your people, just as the resolute, those of constancy and [power of] endurance during hardships, from among the messengers endured [with patience], before you, so that you may be one of resolve [like them] (min [of mina'l-rusuli] is explicative, as all of them were men of resolve; but some say that this [particle min] is [actually] meant to be partitive, since excluded from their number are; Adam, on the basis of God's saying, exalted be He; And We did not find in him any constancy [Q. 20;115]; and Jonah, on the basis of His words; And do not be like the One of the fish [Q. 68;48]). And do not seek to hasten [it] for them, for your people, the sending down of the chastisement on them. Some say that he [the Prophet] seemed [by this stage] to have become exasperated because of them and desired that chastisement be sent down on them, which is why he was enjoined to [exercise] patience and to refrain from hastening the chastisement [for them] -- for it would befall them [eventually] without doubt. It shall seem for them, on the day when they see what they are promised, of chastisement in the Hereafter, given its long duration, as though they had tarried, in this world, by their reckoning, only an hour of a day. This Qur'n is, a communication, a proclamation from God to you. So shall any be destroyed, that is to say, none [shall be destroyed] upon seeing the chastisement, but the immoral folk?, that is to say, the disbelieving [folk]. Medinese, except for verse 13, or [it is all] Meccan; it consists of 38 or 39 verses.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

فَاصْبِرْ كَمَا صَبَرَ أُوْلُوا الْعَزْمِ مِنَ الرُّسُلِ

Therefore be patient as did those of determination among the Messengers.

meaning, as they were patient with their people's rejection of them.

"Those of determination" among the Messengers are Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, `Isa and the last of all of the Prophets, Muhammad.

Allah has specifically mentioned their names in two Ayat;Surah Al-Ahzab (33;7) and Surah Ash-Shura (42;13).

وَلَا تَسْتَعْجِل لَّهُمْ

and be in no hurry for them.

which means, `do not rush the punishment for them.'

This is similar to Allah's saying;

وَذَرْنِى وَالْمُكَذِّبِينَ أُوْلِى النَّعْمَةِ وَمَهِّلْهُمْ قَلِيلً

And leave Me alone to deal with the rejecters, those who are in possession of good things of life. And give them respite for a little while. (73;11)

فَمَهِّلِ الْكَـفِرِينَ أَمْهِلْهُمْ رُوَيْداً

So allow time for the disbelievers, and leave them for a while. (86;17)

Then Allah says;

كَأَنَّهُمْ يَوْمَ يَرَوْنَ مَا يُوعَدُونَ لَمْ يَلْبَثُوا إِلاَّ سَاعَةً مِّن نَّهَارٍ

On the Day when they will see that which they are promised, it will be as though they had not remained (in the world) except an hour in a day.

Which is similar to Allah's saying,

كَأَنَّهُمْ يَوْمَ يَرَوْنَهَا لَمْ يَلْبَثُواْ إِلاَّ عَشِيَّةً أَوْ ضُحَـهَا

On the Day they see it (the Hour), it will be as though they had not remained (in the world) except for a day's afternoon or its morning. (79;46)

and as He says,

وَيَوْمَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ كَأَن لَّمْ يَلْبَثُواْ إِلاَّ سَاعَةً مِّنَ النَّهَارِ يَتَعَارَفُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ

And on the Day when He shall gather them together, (it will be) as if they had not stayed but an hour of a day. They will recognize each other. (10;45)

Then Allah says,

بَلَغٌ

A clear message.

meaning, this Qur'an provides a clear concept.

فَهَلْ يُهْلَكُ إِلاَّ الْقَوْمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ




But will any be destroyed except the defiantly rebellious people.

Which means that Allah does not destroy anyone except those who choose the way of destruction. It is part of Allah's justice that He does not punish anyone except those who deserve the punishment -- and Allah knows best.

This concludes the explanation of Surah Al-Ahqaf. And all praise and blessings are due to Allah. Both success and protection from faults are by His help