Allah Mighty and Majestic says:
Say, "For you is the appointment of a Day [when] you will not remain thereafter an hour, nor will you precede [it]."
قُلْ لَكُمْ مِيعَادُ يَوْمٍ لا تَسْتَأْخِرُونَ عَنْهُ سَاعَةً وَلا تَسْتَقْدِمُونَ
, and it is the Day of Resurrection.
For you is the appointment of a Day
لكم ميعاد يوم
Regarding his statement:
Appointment
ميعاد
, it is possible that it is a circumstantial phrase of place or time, and it is possible that it is a verbal noun with the prefix mim. The meaning is that you have a promise that will occur on a day from which you will not be delayed by an hour, nor will you be brought forward. This is because Allah Mighty and Majestic, with His perfect wisdom, has decreed a specific term for every thing. Allah the Exalted said:
And everything with Him is by due measure.
وَكُلُّ شَيْءٍ عِنْدَهُ بِمِقْدَارٍ
[Surah al-Ra'd: 8]. Everything is measured by Allah and determined by its term. Thus, the punishment is not brought forward by their haste, nor is it delayed when it comes; it neither advances nor retreats. In this is a threat to them that is apparent, as if you were to say to a person: “You have an appointment with me that will neither advance nor retreat.” The meaning is: beware of this day. And the author’s statement:
“It is the Day of Resurrection” is undoubtedly a possible interpretation, but there is another possibility: that it is the Day of Resurrection and also the day of their death, for on the day of their death they witness the punishment. Allah the Exalted said:
And if you could but see when the angels take the souls of those who disbelieved... They are striking their faces and their backs and [saying], "Taste the punishment of the Burning Fire.
وَلَوْ تَرَى إِذْ يَتَوَفَّى الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا الْمَلائِكَةُ يَضْرِبُونَ وُجُوهَهُمْ وَأَدْبَارَهُمْ وَذُوقُوا عَذَابَ الْحَرِيقِ
[Surah al-Anfal: 50].
That is for what your hands have put forth and because Allah is not ever unjust to [His] servants."
ذَلِكَ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ لَيْسَ بِظَلَّامٍ لِلْعَبِيدِ
[Surah Al-Imran: 182]. So on this day they find the punishment before the Day of Resurrection.
And if you could but see when the wrongdoers are in the overwhelming pangs of death while the angels extend their hands, [saying], "Discharge your souls! Today you will be awarded the punishment of [extreme] humiliation for what you used to say against Allah other than the truth and [that] you were, toward His verses, being arrogant."
وَلَوْ تَرَى إِذِ الظَّالِمُونَ فِي غَمَرَاتِ الْمَوْتِ وَالْمَلائِكَةُ بَاسِطُوا أَيْدِيهِمْ أَخْرِجُوا أَنفُسَكُمُ الْيَوْمَ تُجْزَوْنَ عَذَابَ الْهُونِ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ غَيْرَ الْحَقِّ وَكُنتُمْ عَنْ آيَاتِهِ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ
[Surah al-An'am: 93]. And in Surah al-Dukhan:
(10) Then watch for the Day when the sky will bring a visible smoke. (11) Covering the people; this is a painful torment. (12) [They will say], "Our Lord, remove from us the torment; indeed, we are believers." (13) How will there be for them a reminder [at that time]? And there had come to them a clear Messenger.
فَارْتَقِبْ يَوْمَ تَأْتِي السَّمَاءُ بِدُخَانٍ مُبِينٍ * يَغْشَى النَّاسَ هَذَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ * رَبَّنَا اكْشِفْ عَنَّا الْعَذَابَ إِنَّا مُؤْمِنُونَ * أَنَّى لَهُمُ الذِّكْرَى وَقَدْ جَاءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ مُبِينٌ
[Surah al-Dukhan: 13], up to His saying:
(15) Indeed, We will remove the torment for a little. Indeed, you [disbelievers] will return [to disbelief]. (16) The Day We will strike with the greatest assault, indeed, We will take retribution.
إِنَّا كَاشِفُوا الْعَذَابِ قَلِيلًا إِنَّكُمْ عَائِدُونَ * يَوْمَ نَبْطِشُ الْبَطْشَةَ الْكُبْرَى إِنَّا مُنتَقِمُونَ
[Surah al-Dukhan: 15-16]. This example occurred at Badr when their nobles and leaders were killed.
