The Holy Quran 18:55 — Surah Al-Kahf

Arabic text

وَمَا مَنَعَ ٱلنَّاسَ أَن يُؤْمِنُوٓا۟ إِذْ جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ رَبَّهُمْ إِلَّآ أَن تَأْتِيَهُمْ سُنَّةُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ أَوْ يَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ قُبُلًا

Translation

After the arrival of guidance (through the Ambiyaa عليه الصلاة والسلام and divine scriptures) the only thing that prevented people from accepting Imaan and seeking forgiveness from their Rabb (for kufr) was that (they were waiting to see whether) the treatment (punishment) of the previous people comes to them or that (they were waiting to see whether some other type of) punishment appears in front of them. (The Kuffaar foolishly waited to see whether the promise of punishment would arrive before accepting Imaan. They failed to realise that once Allaah's punishment arrived, it will be too late to seek forgiveness.)

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

What now prevents them from accepting guidance?: that is, in view of their obstinacy and hostility it may be said that, after such a magnificent guidance as the Quran has reached them, they have no reasonable excuse left for not believing and not repenting. Why, then, the delay in accepting the truth, and what are they waiting for?

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