Sūrat Ibrāhīm
Section 11 of 12 · Surah Studies · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Do Not Think He Is Unaware
The final section of the sūrah is a depiction of the Day of Judgement — graphic and explicit. Allah says, from verse 42:
وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَـٰفِلًا عَمَّا يَعْمَلُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ لِيَوْمٍ تَشْخَصُ فِيهِ ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرُ
“Never think that Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers are doing. He is but giving them respite up to a day when the eyes shall remain upraised (in terror).” (14:42)
Do not suppose that Allah (swt) is unaware of what the oppressors do. One sees men oppressing others for years together with nothing befalling them, and wonders what is happening, and where Allah is. The answer given here is that He is by no means unaware: He grants them respite, lets the matter run its course, and then seizes them. There follows a full description of their state in the Hereafter, and a warning to the people of the punishment.
They laid their plots, but Allah has His design:
وَقَدْ مَكَرُوا۟ مَكْرَهُمْ وَعِندَ ٱللَّهِ مَكْرُهُمْ وَإِن كَانَ مَكْرُهُمْ لِتَزُولَ مِنْهُ ٱلْجِبَالُ
“And they worked out their plot and whatever they plot is before Allah, even though their plot is such as would move the mountains.” (14:46)
Even were their plots such that mountains might be moved by them.
فَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِفَ وَعْدِهِۦ رُسُلَهُۥٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ ذُو ٱنتِقَامٍ
“So, never think that Allah will do against His promise to His messengers. Surely, Allah is Mighty, the Lord of Retribution” (14:47)
Do not suppose, then, that Allah will fail in what He has promised His messengers. There follows another description, and the garments of tar:
سَرَابِيلُهُم مِّن قَطِرَانٍ وَتَغْشَىٰ وُجُوهَهُمُ ٱلنَّارُ
“their shirts will be of rosin, and their faces will be covered with Fire” (14:50)
The picture is a grim one.