Muhammad Verse 18

Are they only waiting for the Hour to take them by surprise? Yet ˹some of˺ its signs have already come.[[ The coming of Muḥammad (ﷺ) is one of the signs of the Hour. ]] Once it actually befalls them, will it not be too late to be mindful?

Are they but waiting for the Hour to come upon them by surprise? Already [some of] its signs have appeared. What good will it do them to take heed when it actually befalls them?

Are they looking for aught but the Hour, that it shall come upon them suddenly? Already its tokens have come; so, when it has come to them, how shall they have their Reminder?

What are the disbelievers waiting for, other than the Hour which will come upon them unawares? Its signs are already here, but once the Hour has actually arrived, what use will it be then to take heed?

Await they but the Hour, that it should come upon them on a sudden? Tokens thereof are already come, so how shall it be with them when there cometh Unto them their admonition!

Do they then only wait for the Hour,- that it should come on them of a sudden? But already have come some tokens thereof, and when it (actually) is on them, how can they benefit then by their admonition?

Are they waiting, then, for anything else than the Last Hour to suddenly come upon them? Already some of its tokens have come. But when it does actually come upon them, where will any time be left for them to take heed?

Do they wait for any thing but the Hour (of change), that it may come upon them suddenly? Its signs have already appeared. How then will they be warned when it has come upon them?

So what are they waiting for, except that the Last Day suddenly come upon them? For its signs have already appeared; so when it does come, of what use is their realising it?

Do they await anything except that the Hour should overtake them suddenly? Its portents have already come. When it overtakes them of what avail will the admonitions they were given?

Do they (who persist in unbelief and evil deeds) wait but for the Last Hour – (waiting) that it come upon them all of a sudden? Now indeed its portents have already come. But how can it benefit them to take admonition when the Last Hour has (already) come upon them?

These (disbelievers) only wait for the (promised) Hour (of doom) to take them unaware. Its signs have already appeared. But of what (avail) will their admonition be to them (and how will they be able to repent) when it actually comes upon them (all of a sudden).

So do they wait/watch except (for) the Hour/Resurrection that (E) it comes to them suddenly/unexpectedly, so its signs/indications had (E) come, so how (is it) for them if/when their reminder/remembrance came to them?

So what are they waiting for, except that the Last Day suddenly come upon them? For its signs have already appeared; so when it does come, of what use is their realising it?

Do they then wait for aught but the Hour that it should come to them of a sudden? But already have come some tokens of it, but how can they take warning when it comes on them?

Do they then await (anything) other than the Hour, that it should come upon them suddenly? But some of its portents (indications and signs) have already come, and when it (actually) is on them, how can they benefit then by their reminder?

And those who follow guidance, He increases them in guidance and grants them their observance of duty.

Do they then wait for aught but the hour that it should come to them all of a sudden? Now indeed the tokens of it have (already) come, but how shall they have their reminder when it comes on them?

Await they aught save the Hour, that it should come upon them unawares? And the beginnings thereof have already come. But how, when it hath come upon them, can they take their warning?

Are they waiting for the Hour of Doom to suddenly approach them? Its signs have already appeared. How will they then come to their senses when the Hour itself will approach them?

Are they looking except for the Hour to overtake them suddenly? Its signs have come. But how will they be reminded when it has come to them?

Do they then await except that the Hour should come upon them suddenly But already there have come (some of) its portents; and when it (actually) is on them, how can they benefit then by their reminder

Are they awaiting the Hour of Doom to come upon them suddenly? Its signs have already come. But of what avail will their admonition be to them when it has actually come upon them?

Are they just waiting until the Hour comes to them suddenly? Its tokens have already come. But how will they be reminded when it has come to them?

Do they, then, await, they do not await, namely, the disbelievers of Mecca, anything except that the Hour should come upon them (an ta'tiyahum is an inclusive substitution for al-s`ata, `the Hour'; in other words, it cannot be other than that it will come upon them [...]) suddenly? For already its portents, the signs thereof, have come, among which are the sending of the Prophet (s), the splitting of the Moon [Q. 54;1] and the Smoke [Q. 44;10]. So, when it, the Hour, has come upon them, for what [benefit] will their reminder be?, their remembering; in other words, it will be of no benefit to them.

فَهَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلاَّ السَّاعَةَ أَن تَأْتِيَهُم بَغْتَةً

Do they then await except that the Hour should come upon them suddenly,

meaning, while they are unaware of it.

فَقَدْ جَاء أَشْرَاطُهَا

But already there have come (some of) its portents;

meaning, the signs of its approach.

This is similar to Allah's saying,

هَـذَا نَذِيرٌ مِّنَ النُّذُرِ الاٍّوْلَى

أَزِفَتِ الاٌّزِفَةُ

This is a warner of the warners of old. The approaching Day has drawn near. (53;56-57)

And His saying,

اقْتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَةُ وَانشَقَّ الْقَمَرُ

The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has split. (54;1)

And His saying,

أَتَى أَمْرُ اللَّهِ فَلَ تَسْتَعْجِلُوهُ

The command of Allah is coming, so do not be impatient for it. (16;1)

And His saying,

اقْتَرَبَ لِلنَّاسِ حِسَـبُهُمْ وَهُمْ فِى غَفْلَةٍ مُّعْرِضُونَ

The people's Day of Reckoning has approached while they turn away in heedlessness. (21;1)

Thus, the Messenger's advent is one of the signs of the Hour, because he is the Finality of the Messengers. With him, Allah has completed the religion and established the evidence against all people in a way that was never done by a previous Prophet. Allah's Messenger has most clearly informed about the signs and indications of the Hour, as we have discussed elsewhere. Al-

Bukhari recorded from Sahl bin Sa`d, may Allah be pleased with him, that he saw Allah's Messenger bring his index and middle fingers together while he said,

بُعِثْتُ أَنَا وَالسَّاعَةَ كَهَاتَيْن

I have been sent before the Hour as these two (fingers).

Allah continues,

فَأَنَّى لَهُمْ إِذَا جَاءتْهُمْ ذِكْرَاهُمْ




and when it (actually) is on them, how can they benefit then by their reminder?

meaning, how would remembering benefit the disbelievers when the Hour comes upon them

This is similar to Allah's saying,

يَوْمَيِذٍ يَتَذَكَّرُ الاِنسَـنُ وَأَنَّى لَهُ الذِّكْرَى

On that Day will the human being remember, but what would that remembrance avail him then? (89;23)

And His saying,

وَقَالُواْ ءَامَنَّا بِهِ وَأَنَّى لَهُمُ التَّنَاوُشُ مِن مَّكَانِ بَعِيدٍ


They will say (in the Hereafter);"Now we believe in it!"

But how could they claim belief from such a far place? (34;52)

Allah then says