Juz 21: Al-ʿAnkabūt 46 to Al-Aḥzāb 30
Section 4 of 18 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
4. The Quran as a Continuing Miracle | Verses: Al-'Ankabut 29:52-55
Building upon the discussion of the Prophet's unlettered status, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala now elaborates on the Quran's miraculous nature and the stubborn rejection of those who oppose it. The Quran represents a mu'jiza (miracle) that continues to manifest its extraordinary qualities throughout time, unlike the temporary physical miracles given to previous prophets.
Allah addresses the Prophet (peace be upon him) in verse 52-53:
قُلْ كَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ شَهِيدًا يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِالْبَاطِلِ وَكَفَرُوا بِاللَّهِ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ
“Say, 'Allah is sufficient as a witness between me and you. He knows what is in the heavens and the earth. Those who believe in falsehood and disbelieve in Allah, those are the losers.'”
وَيَسْتَعْجِلُونَكَ بِالْعَذَابِ وَلَوْلَا أَجَلٌ مُّسَمًّى لَّجَاءَهُمُ الْعَذَابُ وَلَيَأْتِيَنَّهُم بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
“And they ask you to hasten the punishment. Had there not been an appointed time, the punishment would have come to them. And it will surely come to them suddenly while they will not be aware.”
These verses highlight the arrogance of the disbelievers who, despite being presented with the miraculous Quran, not only rejected it but demanded immediate punishment to prove its truthfulness. Such was their obstinacy that they challenged divine judgment, failing to understand that Allah's wisdom includes appointed times for all events, including punishment. This attitude demonstrates their spiritual blindness - rather than seeking guidance from the Quran, they mockingly demanded its warnings be fulfilled immediately.
Allah then reminds them of the inevitable reality of punishment in verse 54:
يَسْتَعْجِلُونَكَ بِالْعَذَابِ وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمُحِيطَةٌ بِالْكَافِرِينَ
“They ask you to hasten the punishment. And Hell is surely going to engulf the disbelievers.”
This verse delivers a sobering message: while the disbelievers mock and demand immediate punishment, they fail to realize that Hellfire already encompasses them in a metaphysical sense. Their current path leads directly toward it, and their mockery only