The Quran

Preface

وَلَو يُؤاخِذُ اللَّهُ النّاسَ بِظُلمِهِم ما تَرَكَ عَلَيها مِن دابَّةٍ وَلٰكِن يُؤَخِّرُهُم إِلىٰ أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى ۖ فَإِذا جاءَ أَجَلُهُم لا يَستَأخِرونَ ساعَةً ۖ وَلا يَستَقدِمونَ

Yusuf Ali

If God were to punish men for their wrong-doing, He would not leave, on the (earth), a single living creature: but He gives them respite for a stated Term: When their Term expires, they would not be able to delay (the punishment) for a single hour, just as they would not be able to anticipate it (for a single hour).¹

God’s decree works without fail. If He were to punish for every wrong or shortcoming, not a single living creature on earth would escape punishment. But in His infinite mercy and forgiveness, He gives respite: He provides time for repentance. If the repentance is forthcoming, God’s Mercy is forthcoming without fail. If not, the punishment comes inevitably on the expiration of the Term. The sinner cannot anticipate it by an insolent challenge, nor can he delay it when the time arrives. Let him not think that the respite given him may mean that he can do what he likes, and that he can escape scot-free from the consequences ( Cf. 35:45).