Surah Al-Anbya 21:40

The Idolators seek to hasten on the Punishment

Allah also tells us how the idolators seek to hasten punishment upon themselves, out of denial, rejection, disbelief, stubbornness and a belief that it will never happen. He says:

(And they say: "When will this promise (come to pass), if you are truthful".) And Allah says:

(If only those who disbelieved knew (the time) when they will not be able to ward off the Fire from their faces, nor from their backs,) meaning, if only they knew for certain that it will inevitably come to pass, they would not seek to hasten it. If only they knew how the torment will overwhelm them from above them and from beneath their feet.

(They shall have coverings of Fire, above them and coverings (of Fire) beneath them) 39:16

(Theirs will be a bed of Hell (Fire), and over them coverings (of Hellfire)) 7:41. And in this Ayah Allah says:

(when they will not be able to ward off the Fire from their faces, nor from their backs,) And Allah says:

(Their garments will be of tar, and fire will cover their faces) 14:50. The torment will surround them on all sides,

(and they will not be helped.) means, and they will have no helper. This is like the Ayah:

(And they have no guardian against Allah) 13:34.

(Nay, it will come upon them all of a sudden) means, the Fire will come upon them suddenly, i.e., it will take them by surprise.

(and will perplex them,) means, it will scare them, and they will succumb to it in confusion, not knowing what they are doing.

(and they will have no power to avert it) means, they will have no means of doing so.

(nor will they get respite. ) means, it will not be delayed for them even for an instant.

Dalam ayat ini Allah menerangkan bahwa seandainya kaum kafir itu mengetahui, bahwa kelak mereka tidak akan berdaya untuk mengelakkan diri dari azab api neraka yang akan menyerbu mereka dari segala arah, niscaya mereka tidak akan berkata demikian. Oleh sebab itu, tantangan mereka agar azab tersebut didatangkan segera kepada mereka, adalah betul-betul timbul dari kebodohan dan keingkaran mereka, karena mereka menutup diri terhadap ajaran-ajaran yang benar, yang disampaikan oleh Rasulullah.

Adanya azab dan hari Kiamat yang datang secara tiba-tiba itu agar dijadikan peringatan bagi orang-orang yang beriman kepada Allah dan untuk tetap mengfokuskan perhatian kepada pengamalan agama, sebagaimana firman Allah:

Oleh karena itu, hadapkanlah wajahmu kepada agama yang lurus (Islam) sebelum datang dari Allah suatu hari (Kiamat) yang tidak dapat ditolak, pada hari itu mereka terpisah-pisah. (ar-Rum/30: 43)