Surah Ibrahim (Abraham ) 14 : 42

Overview  (Verses 42 - 46)

No Heeding of Past Lessons
 
The sūrah moves on with its presentation of these issues, speaking to those “who have exchanged God’s blessings for unbelief and landed their people in the House of Perdition.” (Verse 28) It speaks to them as they continue with their erring ways, before they are subjected to God’s punishment. They are the ones whom the Prophet had been told to say to them: “Enjoy yourselves in this life, for you will surely end up in hell.” (Verse 30) He is further ordered to address those who believe in God, and to command them to offer their prayers and pay their zakāt: “Tell My servants who have attained to faith that they should attend regularly to their prayers and spend [in My way], secretly and openly, out of the sustenance We provide for them, before a day shall come when there will be no trading and no friendship.” (Verse 31)
 
Here the sūrah completes the picture, showing what God has prepared for those unbelievers who deny God’s blessings, and tells when they will face their inevitable destiny. This comes in quick images of the Day of Judgement which fill our hearts with fear: “Never think that God is unaware of what the wrongdoers are doing. He only grants them respite till the Day when eyes will stare fixedly in horror, when they will be dashing in confusion, with their heads lifted up, unable to turn their eyes from what they behold, and their hearts an utter void.” (Verses 42-43)
 
The Prophet (peace be upon him) does not think that God may ever be unaware of what the wrongdoers are perpetrating. It might appear so to some people who see the wrongdoers enjoying a comfortable life in this world. Such people hear God’s warning, but see nothing of it taking place in this life. This explains the deadline which is fixed for their final punishment when they are given no further respite. That takes place on the day when eyes stare fixedly in horror, unable even to wink. The fear is so great that there is no blinking of a single eyelid.
 
This is followed by a picture of people rushing everywhere, unable to turn their faces to anything. Their heads are raised upward, but this is unintentional for they cannot move their heads. As they see the fearsome scene ahead of them, their eyes are fixed and their hearts are void, containing nothing they remember or understand. They are all empty.
 
It is to this day that God delays the wrongdoers’ punishment. Now they stand in their position, overwhelmed by fear. In this scene they are like a small bird caught in the claws of a predator: “Never think that God is unaware of what the wrongdoers are doing. He only grants them respite till the Day when eyes will stare fixedly in horror, when they will be dashing in confusion, with their heads lifted up, unable to turn their eyes from what they behold, and their hearts an utter void.” (Verses 42-43)
 
The Prophet is required to warn people that when this day arrives, there can be no excuses given and no evasion of responsibility. Another picture is then drawn of this horrific day: “Hence, warn mankind of the Day when suffering may befall them; when those who do wrong will say: ‘Our Lord, grant us respite for a short while, so that we may respond to Your call and follow Your messengers.’ ‘Why? Did you not in time past swear that you would suffer no decline? And you dwelt in the dwellings of those who wronged their own souls before you. Yet you knew for certain how We had dealt with them, and We placed many examples before you.’“ (Verses 44-45)
 
Warn them against the day when the suffering drawn earlier is bound to befall them. At this point, the wrongdoers turn to their Lord with an urgent appeal, saying: “Our Lord.” Now they say this while earlier they were bent on unbelief, associating partners with Him: “Our Lord, grant us respite for a short while, so that we may respond to Your call and follow Your messengers.” (Verse 44)
 
At this point the flow of the discourse is changed from the narrative form to that of an address, as though they are now at that point, staring fixedly in horror, making their passionate appeal. This whole world is rolled over and we seem to be already in the hereafter, and they are being reproached from on high, reminded of the wrongs they used to do in their first life: “Why, did you not in time past swear that you would suffer no decline?” (Verse 44) How do you see yourselves now? Have you suffered any decline? You asserted this when you had in front of your eyes the ruins of those who went before you, giving proof of what happened to them and their inevitable destiny.
 
“And you dwelt in the dwellings of those who wronged their own souls before you. Yet you knew for certain how We had dealt with them, and We placed many examples before you.” (Verse 45) It is amazing that you should see the dwellings of former wrongdoers, testifying to what happened to them, and you dwelling in their place, and yet you swear that you would not suffer a decline. With this hard reproach the scene is completed. We understand what happens to them, and what takes place after their appeal and their disappointment.
 
This example repeatedly occurs throughout history. Many are the wrongdoers who succeed earlier tyrants. In fact, those tyrants were destroyed by their own hands, yet they follow in their footsteps and tyrannize like them. They take no heed of the lessons they see in front of their eyes. Hence, like them, they are put to the same fate. The same dwellings will be rid of them after a while.
 
The sūrah then turns to their present situation, and their wicked scheming against God’s Messenger, and their evil devices in every aspect of life. It gives the clear impression that they will face their inevitable destiny, no matter what powerful and elaborate schemes they devise: “They devised their plots, but their plots are all within God’s grasp, even though their plots are so powerful as to move mountains.” (Verse 46)
 
God is certainly aware of their scheming, although it may be so strong and powerful that it causes mountains, the strongest and most solid and firm creation, to move. In fact, the last thing any human being would expect to move is a mountain. However, their scheming is in no way hidden from God, and never immune from God’s power. It is in front of Him, and He can foil it and do with it what He likes.