An-Naba · Makki · ayah 40 of 40

An-Naba 78:40

إِنَّآ أَنذَرْنَـٰكُمْ عَذَابًا قَرِيبًا يَوْمَ يَنظُرُ ٱلْمَرْءُ مَا قَدَّمَتْ يَدَاهُ وَيَقُولُ ٱلْكَافِرُ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى كُنتُ تُرَٰبًۢا

“Indeed, We have warned you of an impending punishment on the Day when a man will observe what his hands have put forth[1831] and the disbeliever will say, "Oh, I wish that I were dust!"”

Saheeh International

Essence

A warning in time: on a near Day each sees what their hands sent ahead, and the denier wishes to be dust.

A reflection

Near, because it is certain

A mother helps her son carry boxes up four flights of stairs to his first university room. She makes his bed, stocks the little fridge and hugs him at the door. On the drive home she cannot stop thinking about his first morning at primary school. The small blazer, the too-big shoes, the way he would not let go of her hand. It feels like last week. It was thirteen years ago.

This ayah calls the punishment of the Last Day qarīb, near. Generations have lived and died since it was revealed. How is it near?

The sources give several answers. One commentator says it became near because its coming is certain, and everything that is coming is coming. Others say that everything that is on its way is near. They cite another ayah. On the Day they see it, it will seem they stayed only an evening or its morning (79:46). One commentator quotes a saying: how far is what has passed, and how near is what is coming.

One commentator gives the most personal answer. The clearest meaning, he says, is death and the Resurrection together. Whoever dies, his resurrection has in a sense already begun. He sees his place, in honour or in disgrace. Another adds that the time between death and the Resurrection belongs to the next life, and it begins with death, which is truly near.

The root of qarīb holds a lovely desert picture. A caravan grazing its way towards water stops grazing on the last evening and travels all night, to arrive at dawn. That night was the night of drawing near. These are established senses.

The mother knows how fast thirteen years can go. The next thirteen will go faster. This ayah is not trying to frighten us with distance. It is trying to wake us to nearness. The water is one night away. Travel as if you believe it.

The full entry has 4 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.