Al-An'am · Makki · ayah 15 of 165

Al-An'am 6:15

قُلْ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ إِنْ عَصَيْتُ رَبِّى عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ

“Say, "Indeed I fear, if I should disobey my Lord, the punishment of a tremendous Day."”

Saheeh International

Essence

The third 'Say' closes a refusal: offered another protector, the Prophet ﷺ answers that disobeying his Lord would cost a Day he fears.

A reflection

One sentence, three pressures

This exact sentence returns at 39:13, where its full treatment lives. There you will find the startling fear of the one least likely to disobey, and the pictures inside its words. It also closes 10:15. Each time, it answers a different pressure.

In 10:15, the deniers ask for a different Quran, or for this one to be changed. The reply is that he only follows what is revealed to him, and then this sentence. In 39:13, it follows the command to worship Allah with devotion made pure.

Here it is the last line of a refusal. The commentaries place these ayat at the moment he was being called back to his forefathers' religion. He has been told to ask: shall I take a protector other than Allah? He has been told to be the first to submit, and never to associate partners. Now a third 'Say' closes the door.

A thing can be refused on many grounds: taste, timing, cost. This ayah refuses on the gravest ground there is. It would be disobedience to my Lord, and I fear what that Day holds. One report speaks of an offer of wealth made to him in Makkah. Against comfort offered now, the ayah sets a Day. That is the trade being declined.

The full entry has 2 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.