Verse. 1902

'Abdullāh Ibn 'Abbās / Muḥammad al-Fīrūzabādī

تفسير : and from his chain of transmitters on the authority of ibn 'abbas that he said: 'when the words of allah (the reckoning draws near for mankind…) [21:1] and (the hour drew near…) [54:1], people waited whatever time allah willed them to wait, but nothing happened. so they said: “o muhammad! when will the torment which you promised us happen?” as a response, allah revealed: (the commandment of allah will come to pass) the chastisement of allah has come. the prophet (pbuh) was sitting at that point and he suddenly stood, having no doubt in his mind that the chastisement had come. but immediately after that, allah said: (so seek not ye to hasten it) i.e. the chastisement, at which the prophet (pbuh) sat down. (glorified) allah exonerated himself from having a son or partner (and exalted be he) he is too elevated and absolves himself (above all that they associate (with him)) of idols.

Jalāl al-Dīn al-Maḥallī

تفسير : when the idolaters found chastisement slow in coming, the following was revealed: god’s commandment has come, that is, the hour [has come] ([this verb] atā is in the past tense because it means that [the event therein described] will come to pass) in other words, it [god’s commandment] is close at hand, so do not seek to hasten it, do not demand it before its [due] time, for it will come to pass without doubt. glory be to him — an affirmation of his transcendence — and exalted be he above what they associate, with him, in the way of others.

Ali ibn Ahmad al-Wahidi

تفسير : (the commandment of allah will come to pass…) [16:1]. said ibn 'abbas: “when allah, exalted is he, revealed (the hour drew nigh and the moon was rent in twain) [54:1], the unbelievers said to each other: 'this man claims that the day of judgement is near, so refrain from some of the things you usually do until we see what happens'. when they saw that nothing happened, they said: 'nothing happened', and so allah, exalted is he, revealed (their reckoning draweth nigh for mankind, while they turn away in heedlessness…) [21:1]. they again became apprehensive and waited for the nearing last hour. when a long time had passed [and nothing happened] they said: 'o muhammad, nothing of that with which you have threatened us happened'. and allah, exalted is he, revealed (the commandment of allah will come to pass). the prophet, allah bless him and give him peace, jumped up when he heard this and people raised their heads [to heaven]. the revelation (so seek not ye to hasten it) came, and people felt relieved. and when this verse was revealed, the messenger of allah, allah, bless him and give him peace, said: 'i and the last hour are like this - and he pointed with his finger - ; it almost came before me' ”. other unbelievers said: “the judgement is already here; it is chastisement through the sword”. this is the answer of al-nadr ibn al-harith when he said (o allah! if this be indeed the truth from thee, then rain down stones on us…) [8:32], as if hastening chastisement, and so allah exalted is he, revealed this verse.