Quran Universe
15:54

قَالَ أَبَشَّرۡتُمُونِي عَلَىٰٓ أَن مَّسَّنِيَ ٱلۡكِبَرُ فَبِمَ تُبَشِّرُونَ

Qala abashshartumoonee AAala an massaniya alkibaru fabima tubashshirooni

He said, "Have you given me good tidings although old age has come upon me? Then of what [wonder] do you inform?"

Word by word
  1. قَالَHe said
  2. أَبَشَّرۡتُمُونِيDo you give me glad tidings
  3. عَلَىٰٓDo you give me glad tidings
  4. أَنalthough
  5. مَّسَّنِيَhas overtaken me
  6. ٱلۡكِبَرُold age
  7. فَبِمَThen about what
  8. تُبَشِّرُونَyou give glad tidings
Al-Hijr · 15:54Makkah

Now? At my age? How can this be?

Ibrahim's wonder at news that came late

His question
Ibrahimold, his wife old
hears
a sonafter a lifetime
asks
of what wonder?seeking confirmation
What his question was
doubtI do not believe it
astonishmenttell me again

Ibn Kathir says Ibrahim spoke with wonder and astonishment, asking for confirmation, because he was old and his wife was old. It was not denial. It was the surprise of a man who had stopped expecting this.

You stopped applying. You stopped hoping for the child, the marriage, the healing. Then a door opens. You almost cannot take it in. Ibrahim felt that too. Late good news is still good news.

It is too late for that to happen to me.

Allah's timing can bring good long after I stopped expecting it.

Try this

Think of one hope you quietly gave up on, and make dua for it again tonight.

Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (shared passage from 15:51)

And tell them about the guests (i. e., the angels) of Ibrahim (51)When they entered upon him, and said: "Salaman (peace!)." He said: "Indeed we are frightened of you. (52)They said: "Do not be afraid! We bring you the good news of a boy possessing much knowledge and wisdom. (53)He said: "Do you give me this good news while old age has overtaken me? Of what then is your news about? (54)They said: "We give you good news in truth. So do not be of those who despair. (55)He said: "And who despairs of the mercy of his Lord except those who are astray? (56)

The Guests of Ibrahim and their Good News of a Son for Him

Allah is saying: 'Tell them, O Muhammad, about the story of

ضَيْفِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ

(the guests of Ibrahim.)'

دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا سَلَامًا قَالَ إِنَّا مِنكُمْ وَجِلُونَ

(they entered upon him, and said: "Salaman (peace!)." He said: "Indeed we are frightened of you.") meaning that they were scared. The reason for their fear has been mentioned previously, which is that they noticed that these guests did not eat of the food that was offered, which was a fattened calf.

قَالُوا لَا تَوْجَلْ

(They said: "Do not be afraid!...") meaning, do not be scared.

وَبَشَّرُوهُ بِغُلَامٍ عَلِيمٍ

(We bring you the good news of a boy possessing much knowledge and wisdom.) this refers to Ishaq, as was previously mentioned in Surat Hud. Then

قَالَ

(He said) meaning he spoke with wonder and astonishment, asking for confirmation, because he was old and his wife was old:

أَبَشَّرْتُمُونِي عَلَىٰ أَن مَّسَّنِيَ الْكِبَرُ فَبِمَ تُبَشِّرُونَ

(Do you give me this good news while old age has overtaken me? Of what then is your news about?) They responded by confirming the good news they had brought, good news after good news:

قَالُوا بَشَّرْنَاكَ بِالْحَقِّ فَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ الْقَانِطِينَ

(They said: "We give you good news in truth. So do not be of those who despair.")