Al-A'raaf (The Heights)

187. “They ask you about the Hour (of Resurrection) when it will set in. Say: ‘Its knowledge is only with my Lord. None but He can manifest it at its time. Heavy is it in the heavens and the earth. It will not overtake you but suddenly’. They ask you, as if you were well-informed of it. Say: ‘The knowledge of it is only with Allah, but most people do not know’.”

The infidels of Quraysh sent a number of persons to the scholars of the Jews in order to learn some difficult questions so that when they would ask them from the Prophet (S) he could not give any answer to them and they might condemn him. One of these questions was that they asked about the exact time of the occurrence of Resurrection.

The Qur’ānic term /’ayyān/, mentioned in this verse, has been used for asking the time. The Arabic word /assā‘ah/ refers to the beginning of Resurrection, while the word /al-qiyāmah/ means the time of reckoning in Hereafter when the rewards and retributions will be given.¹

The Arabic term /mursā/ means ‘that which is fixed with regard to time or place’. Thus the Qur’ānic phrase /jibāl-un-rāsiyāt/ means: ‘fixed and firm mountains’.

The word /haffiyy/, used in the verse, means a constant researcher. This epithet, concerning to the Prophet (S), means as if he (S) had completely researched the time of the occurrence of Resurrection Day and had asked it from Allah and knew it well.

The idea of the heaviness of the Hereafter in ‘the heavens and the earth’, maybe, refers to the destruction of celestial globes, darkening of the sun, revolution of the earth, etc.

However, the lack of knowledge about the features and details of Hereafter does not harm the principal of the belief in Resurrection. No one is aware of the time and the place of his death, but this situation can not be taken as a reason for denying the principal of death. The verse says:

“They ask you about the Hour (of Resurrection) when it will set in. Say: ‘Its knowledge is only with my Lord. None but He can manifest it at its time. Heavy is it in the heavens and the earth. It will not overtake you but suddenly’. They ask you, as if you were well-informed of it. Say: ‘The knowledge of it is only with Allah, but most people do not know’.”

Once the Holy Prophet (S) was asked about the reappearance and coming out of Hadrat Ghā’im (as). He answered:

“His example is like the time (of Resurrection).”

This statement means that the time of his reappearance resembles the time of Resurrection. Then, he (S) recited this verse:

“…None but He can manifest it at its time. Heavy is it in the heavens and the earth. It will not overtake you but suddenly’…”2