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wa-ʾandhiri n-nāsa yawma yaʾtīhimu l-ʿadhābu fa-yaqūlu lladhīna ẓalamū rabbanā ʾakhkhirnā ʾilā ʾajalin qarībin nujib daʿwataka wa-nattabiʿi r-rusula ʾa-wa-lam takūnū ʾaqsamtum min qablu mā lakum min zawālin
Warn the people of the day when the punishment will overtake them, whereat the wrongdoers will say, ‘Our Lord! Respite us for a short time so that we may respond to Your call and follow the apostles.’ [They will be told,] ‘Did you not use to swear earlier that there would be no reverse for you,
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah ‘Ibrahim – Verse 44
44. “And warn the people as to the day when the chastisement comes to them; then those who did injustice will say: ‘Our Lord, defer us to a near term, (that) we will answer Your call and follow the messengers’. (They will be told:) ‘Did you not swear before that there would be no end for you?’”
The Qur’anic term /’inŏar/ (warning) is the antonym of /biš arat/ (glad tidings) both of which were the mission of the prophets who were the bearers of the good news as well as the warners. They were bearer of the good news regarding faith, righteous acts, virtue, and being characterized by attributes which lead one to salvation, happiness, Divine blessings, and ushering one to Paradise. And they were warners as to the cases of paganism, ingratitude, darkness, sins, and evil attributes and characteristics which lead one to wretchedness misery, Divine Wrath, and awful consequences and punishments in this world and in the Hereafter.
Then, in order not to give impression that the Divine punishments are confined to a specific group, as a general rule He commands His prophet to warn all people about the day when the painful chastisement of Allah will call on them. The verse says:
“And warn the people as to the day when the chastisement comes to them…”
That is, when the tyrants notice the terrible consequences of their behaviour, they may regret and think of compensating for it. The verse continues saying:
“…then those who did injustice will say: ‘Our Lord, defer us to a near term, (that) we will answer Your call and follow the messengers’…”
The objective of this day is the day when some calamities and worldly chastisements will be descended, just like the punishments which were inflicted on the peoples of Lūt, and on ‘ Ad, and Thamūd people as well as on the Pharaoh people which exterminated them. However, they are instantly held back and this shaking message is delivered to them that such a thing is impossible to happen. The course of action has come to an end. Were you not the ones who swore that there would be no end and perishing of your life and power?
The verse says:
“…(They will be told:) ‘Did you not swear before that there would be no end for you?’”