And they say, "When is [the fulfillment of] this promise, if you should be truthful?"
وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَى هَذَا الْوَعْدُ إِنْ كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
they say
يقولون
This refers to those who denied the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), who were threatened with punishment and misery. They say, in a tone of defiance, dismissal, and denial:
When is this promise
متى هذا الوعد
When
متى
“When” is a question word, but here it is intended to express denial and challenge.
the promise
الوعد
That is, the promise of the punishment you have promised us. It is also possible that
When is this promise
متى هذا الوعد
refers to the victory for you, because it is well known that a promise regarding good is a promise, while a promise regarding evil is a threat. However, it can be said that the threat to these disbelievers is, in relation to the believers, a promise for them.
When is this promise
متى هذا الوعد
of the punishment.
if you should be truthful.
إن كنتم صادقين
In it, they specify: “If you are truthful in what you say, namely that the punishment will befall us and we will be punished.” Truth is reporting what corresponds to reality, and lying is reporting what contradicts reality. So if I say, “Zayd arrived in the country,” and he had not arrived, it is a lie because it contradicts reality. And if I say, “Zayd arrived in the country,” and he had indeed arrived, it is truth because it corresponds to reality. So they say, “If you are truthful, when will this be?” And this is the saying of Allah the Exalted regarding the Hour:
(17) It is Allah who has sent down the Book in truth and [also] the balance. And what will make you perceive? Perhaps the Hour is near. (18) Those who do not believe in it are impatient for it, but those who believe are fearful of it and know that it is the truth. Unquestionably, those who dispute concerning the Hour are in extreme error.
وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّ السَّاعَةَ قَرِيبٌ * يَسْتَعْجِلُ بِهَا الَّذِينَ لا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهَا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مُشْفِقُونَ مِنْهَا وَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهَا الْحَقُّ
[Al-Shura 17:18] So the disbelievers hasten the punishment in order to deny the Messengers (peace and blessings be upon them). Good.
Allah the Exalted said:
(205) Then have you considered if We gave them enjoyment for years (206) And then there came to them that which they were promised? (207) They would not be availed by the enjoyment with which they were provided.
أَفَبِعَذَابِنَا يَسْتَعْجِلُونَ * أَفَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ مَتَّعْنَاهُمْ سِنِينَ * ثُمَّ جَاءَهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يُوعَدُونَ * مَا أَغْنَى عَنْهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يُمَتَّعُونَ
[Al-Shu'ara 207] Meaning, what will benefit them? So however long their duration may be, the matter is limited and counted.
(205) Then have you considered if We gave them enjoyment for years (206) And then there came to them that which they were promised? (207) They would not be availed by the enjoyment with which they were provided.
إِنْ مَتَّعْنَاهُمْ سِنِينَ * ثُمَّ جَاءَهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يُوعَدُونَ * مَا أَغْنَى عَنْهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يُمَتَّعُونَ
Good. So here they challenge, and yet sometimes they challenge with lies. For when they were informed of the Resurrection, they said to the Messengers (peace and blessings be upon them) in a tone of challenge:
Bring [back] our forefathers, if you should be truthful."
ائْتُوا بِآبَائِنَا إِنْ كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
[Al-Jathiyah 25] And were they told that their fathers would come now, so that they would be directed to this? No, it means they were told that their fathers would be resurrected on the Day of Resurrection, but they deceive the common people with such claims.
