Al-Mulk (The Sovereignty)
Verse 25 - 27
Table of Contents
25. They say: “When will this promise come to pass if you are telling the truth?”
26. Say: “The knowledge is with Allah only and I am merely a plain warner.
27. But when they see it approaching, the faces of those who disbelieve will turn ugly and black and it will be said unto them: “This is what you were calling for!”
The clause
mata hadha al-wa‘d (“when this promise [will come to pass]?”)
is attested six times in the Holy Qur’an as uttered by the disbelievers to who the Noble Prophet (S) would reply:
“The Knowledge as to the Resurrection is solely with God Almighty.”
The knowledge of the unseen falls into two categories: one granted His chosen believers
(“This is of the news of the unseen which We reveal unto you,”1 )
and one which is solely with God Almighty and even His Messengers are unaware of it, instances of which include the specified time of Resurrection as mentioned in the preceding blessed Verse1 and the supplication including
“By the Knowledge which is solely with you.”
The blessed Verse proceeds to treat of the words uttered by those who belie Resurrection, saying that they utter such derisive words but if they are true in their claim they may specify the exact time of Resurrection. Now that they may not act accordingly, why do they not state that they are unable to do so?
Two interpretations have been suggested for
“this promise”:
firstly, the promise of Resurrection and the other the numerous chastisements inflicted in this world, e.g. earth quakes and lightning, though the twain are not inharmonious.
The blessed Verse 26 is thus replying unto them:
“Say unto them 'The knowledge of it is only with God Almighty and I am merely a plain warner.”
The expression is reiterated elsewhere in the Holy Qur’an, including:
“They ask you about the Hour [Day of Resurrection]: 'When will be its appointed time?' Say: 'The knowledge thereof is with my Lord alone. None may reveal its time but He. Heavy is its burden through the heavens and the earth. It shall not come upon you except all of a sudden.' They ask you as if you have a good knowledge of it. Say: 'The knowledge of it is with Allah only, though most of mankind are unaware of it”3 .
The knowledge rests solely with God Almighty since if the appointed time of Resurrection were known and it happened to be far ahead, people would sink into the dire of neglect and if it happened to be close, the people would be too anxious for the fulfillment of the goals of human growth.
The blessed Verse 27 is saying that when they experience the Divine Promises and torments, the faces of the disbelievers turn ugly and black, such that they reflect their sorrows. It will be said unto them that it is what you called for. The verbal form tadda‘un, deriving from the root d-‘-a, implies that they called for Resurrection at all times and now there is no way to evade the reckoning of deeds at the time.
It is noteworthy that Hakim Abu al-Qasim Haskani in this respect says that when the disbelievers noticed the exalted rank of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam ‘Ali (as), before God Almighty, their faces turned black out of rage.2
In this vein, it is narrated from Imam Baqir (as) as saying that the blessed Verse in question was revealed regarding the Commander of the Faithful, Imam ‘Ali (as) and his followers.3 At any rate, the exegesis transmitted by the Shi‘i and Sunni authorities is regarded as comparison and the blessed Verse teats of Resurrection and traditions are imbued with such comparisons.