• Author: Islamweb

The Noble Quran is the book that guides people to the path of truth and guidance. At the same time, it is a warning for the oppressors to return to their senses and a message alerting the heedless to become conscious. In many of its verses, the Noble Quran touched upon these themes.

As regards the theme of altering the heedless, there is the Quranic verse: “Respond to your Lord before a Day comes from Allah of which there is no repelling. No refuge will you have that day, nor for you will there be any denial.” [Quran 42: 47]. This noble verse came following a group of verses that deal with the horrors of the Day of Resurrection, and the significant events that people will encounter on that day, which will make children white-haired out of panic; “every nursing mother will be distracted from that [child] she was nursing, and every pregnant woman will abort her pregnancy, and you will see the people [appearing] intoxicated while they are not intoxicated” [Quran 22: 2]. This verse came in the context of Allah's saying, “And you will see the wrongdoers, when they see the punishment, saying, "Is there for return [to the former world] any way?" And you will see them being exposed to the Fire, humbled from humiliation, looking from [behind] a covert glance. And those who had believed will say, "Indeed, the [true] losers are the ones who lost themselves and their families on the Day of Resurrection. Unquestionably, the wrongdoers are in an enduring punishment." And there will not be for them any allies to aid them other than Allah. And whoever Allah sends astray - for him there is no way.” [Quran 42: 44-46]

The command “Respond to your Lord” is a call from Allah to His servants to adhere to His commandments and refrain from His prohibitions. It is also a request from Allah to His servants as a gesture of His Mercy lest they should fail to abide by His Law, Glory be to Him, or abandon His commands. Again, it is a request that indicates a warning for the servants lest the life of this world, which is the abode of vanity and is fleeting, should deceive them and keep them away from the Hereafter, which is the eternal abode.

Allah’s saying, “a Day comes from Allah of which there is no repelling,” is a hint to the Day of Resurrection, the coming and occurrence of which are not open to doubt and on which people will have no escape. On that day, there shall be no difference between people: the rich and the poor, the strong and the weak, the white and the black; everyone shall be in a terrible situation waiting for the recompense of their deeds and the ultimate end leading to their final destination.

The statement “No refuge will you have that day” refers to the place where one goes to avoid imminent danger. It metaphorically refers to a supporter, which is the intended meaning of this verse. In this sense, a warning is given that nothing would protect from torment. Instead, it shall be inflicted upon every person who turns away from the law of his Lord and from His commandments.

The statement “nor for you will there be any denial” means that they shall not show denial for such a reward as they deserve it. It could also possibly mean that they shall not deny the misdeeds they have committed.

The overall meaning of this verse is that He, Glory be to Him, asks His servants to answer the caller of Allah, believe in him, and follow what he brought before an inevitable day shall come, which is the Day of Resurrection. It is the day from which there is no precaution or escape, as Allah, the Almighty, said, “Man will say on that Day, "Where is the [place of] escape?" No! There is no refuge. To your Lord, that Day is the [place of] permanence.” [Quran 75: 10-12]

There shall be no protection for whoever is a liar and disbeliever from the punishment of Allah; no way would the punishment be averted from every transgressor and skeptic. Everyone would be preoccupied with his affairs.

The most successful person is the one who accepts the call of Allah, adheres to His Law, and makes the Hereafter his concern. The ultimate loser is he who neglects the call of his Lord, turns away from His Law and way, and makes the worldly affairs his principal concern and the ultimate limit of his knowledge. He has not prepared for that day; when it becomes a reality, he knows for sure that Allah is true, and regrets what he has committed when it is too late to regret, “but it was not a time for escape.” [Quran 38: 3]. At that time, there is no escape from the torment, and there is no fleeing from what is destined to happen. The punishment ruling has come into effect upon the disbelievers and the wrongdoers. At that time, repentance will be of no avail. Allah, the Almighty, said, “[For such is the state of the disbelievers], until, when death comes to one of them, he says, "My Lord, send me back. That I might do righteousness in that which I left behind." No! It is only a word he is saying, and behind them is a barrier until the Day they are resurrected.” [Quran 23: 99-100]

It is necessary for the Muslim, amid this life and its distractions, to always recall this verse. He should have concern for that promised day, prepare adequately for it, and become fully ready for it. Whoever does that will be incredibly successful; whoever turns away from it has certainly gone far astray. Let everyone remember Allah’s saying, “Indeed, what you are promised is coming, and you will not cause failure [to Allah].” [Quran 6: 134]