The Holy Quran 11:8 — Surah Hud

Arabic text

وَلَئِنْ أَخَّرْنَا عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابَ إِلَىٰٓ أُمَّةٍ مَّعْدُودَةٍ لَّيَقُولُنَّ مَا يَحْبِسُهُۥٓ ۗ أَلَا يَوْمَ يَأْتِيهِمْ لَيْسَ مَصْرُوفًا عَنْهُمْ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ

Translation

Indeed, if We have to postpone the punishment from them for a little while, they will certainly say (mockingly), "What holds it back?" Behold! The day when it will afflict them, it will not be turned away from them and (the punishment for) their mockery will surround them (destroy them from all sides).

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

that is, when they are warned of the punishment of Allah for their mischief, and the wisdom of Allah holds back the punishment until an appointed term, they say by way of denial and mockery: “Where is that punishment? Why does it not come? What is holding it back?” [Allah] says: why do you mock?

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