Muhammad (Muhammad)

18. Do they [the disbelievers in order to believe] then await [anything] other than the Hour that it should come upon them suddenly? But some of its portents have already come and when it is on them [on the Day of Resurrection] how can they benefit then by their reminder?

Ashrat is the plural form of sharat (“portent, sign, indication”).

As per a Prophetic tradition,

“but some of its portents have already come”

refers to his prophethood,¹ since the last Messenger has Divinely appointed, the last Divine Book has been revealed, and men have been provided with the last decisive Argument. Thus any sin, corruption, disbelief, and denial will make the Last Day occur earlier.

The world al-Sa’a;

(“the Hour”)

is usually employed in the sense of Resurrection, but it may also indicate Divine Wrath and annihilation of men in this world which will be a prelude to the torments of Resurrection.

Ibn ‘Abbas narrates that at the farewell pilgrimage (hajjat al-wida’) on which Salman the Persian was the most intimate Companion of the Noble Prophet (S), Prophet Muhammad (S) said:

“Should I inform you of the portents of Resurrection? They are negligence in establishing daily prayers, following vain desires, cherishing the wealthy, exchanging religion for worldly possessions.”2

Some traditions refer to more than one hundred portents for the coming of Resurrection.

The Verse in question warns disbelievers and polytheists that an ounce of precaution is better than a pound of cure saying that those who await the advent of resurrection should know that it will come all of a sudden.

“The portents have already come”

since the Seal of the Prophets (S) has been Divinely appointed in the last days (akhir al-zaman). According to a Prophetic tradition recorded in Manhaj, the Noble Prophet (S) pointed at two fingers of his saying that the Resurrection and I are attached like these two fingers. Some other portents have already come and others are to come in time.

“When it is on them [on the Day of Resurrection] how can they benefit then by their reminder?”