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qul ʾa-raʾaytum ʾin ʾatākum ʿadhābuhū bayātan ʾaw nahāran mādhā yastaʿjilu minhu l-mujrimūna
Say, ‘Tell me, should His punishment overtake you by night or day, [you will not be able to avert it]; so what part of it do the guilty seek to hasten?’
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Yunus – Verse 50
50. “Say: ‘Have you considered? If His punishment comes upon you by night or by day, what portion of it will the sinners wish to hasten?’”
The Qur’an raises the third answer in this verse. It orders the Prophet (S) to tell the infidels that it is not improbable for Allah’s punishment to come to them during the day-time or at night. Then, are they in a position to repel such a sudden punishment from themselves? The verse says:
“Say: ‘Have you considered? If His punishment comes upon you by night or by day, what portion of it will the sinners wish to hasten?’”
In this case, under what pretexts do the culprits and sinners make haste. Upon this meaning, Surah An-Naml, No. 27, verse 71 says:
“And they say: ‘when will this threat come to pass, if you are truthful?’”