Quran Universe
86:17

فَمَهِّلِ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ أَمۡهِلۡهُمۡ رُوَيۡدَۢا

Famahhili alkafireena amhilhum ruwaydan

So allow time for the disbelievers. Leave them awhile.

Word by word
  1. فَمَهِّلِSo give respite
  2. ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ(to) the disbelievers
  3. أَمۡهِلۡهُمۡGive respite to them
  4. رُوَيۡدَۢاlittle
At-Tariq · 86:17Makkah

So give the deniers time. Leave them a little while.

Patience, not panic

The instruction
the Prophet ﷺfacing their plots
told to
wait gentlydo not hurry
How to respond
rush to reactfight every scheme
patient waitinga little while

Ibn Kathir says it means wait for them and do not be in haste concerning them, for a little while. The introduction calls it consolation for the Prophet ﷺ and a quiet warning to the deniers.

You want to reply to the nasty comment right now, fix the injustice tonight, prove them wrong this week. Some things are better left to Allah's timing.

If I do not react right away, wrong will win.

I can wait patiently, because Allah's timing is better than mine.

Try this

Hold off one angry reply today. Wait a day before deciding.

Related31:24
Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (shared passage from 86:11)

By the sky which gives rain, again and again (11)And the earth which splits (12)Verily, this is the Word that separates (13)And it is not a thing for amusement (14)Verily, they are but plotting a plot (15)And I am planning a plan (16)So, give a respite to the disbelievers; deal gently with them for a while (17)

Swearing to the Truthfulness of the Qur'an and the Failure of Those Who oppose it

Ibn 'Abbas said, "Ar-raj' means rain." It has also been narrated from him that he said, "It means the clouds that contain rain." He also said,

وَالسَّمَاءِ ذَاتِ الرَّجْعِ

(By the sky (having rain clouds) which gives rain, again and again.)

"This means that it rains and then it rains (again)." Qatadah said, "It returns the sustenance of the servants (creatures) every year. Were it not for this, they would all be destroyed and so would their cattle."

وَالْأَرْضِ ذَاتِ الصَّدْعِ

(And the earth which splits.) Ibn 'Abbas said, "Splitting to bring forth plant growths." This was also said by Sa'id bin Jubayr, 'Ikrimah, Abu Malik, Ad-Dahhak, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, As-Suddi and others. Concerning Allah's statement,

إِنَّهُ لَقَوْلٌ فَصْلٌ

(Verily, this is the Word that separates.)

Ibn 'Abbas said (Fasl is), "True." Qatadah also said the same. Someone else said, "A just ruling."

وَمَا هُوَ بِالْهَزْلِ

(And it is not a thing for amusement.)

meaning, rather it is serious and true. Then Allah informs about the disbelievers saying that they reject Him and hinder others from His path. Allah says,

إِنَّهُمْ يَكِيدُونَ كَيْدًا

(Verily, they are but plotting a plot.) meaning, they plot against the people in their calling them to oppose the Qur'an. Then Allah says,

فَمَهِّلِ الْكَافِرِينَ

(So, give a respite to the disbelievers;) meaning, wait for them and do not be in haste concerning them.

أَمْهِلْهُمْ رُوَيْدًا

(deal gently with them for a while.) meaning, a little while. This means that you will see what befalls them of torment, punishment and destruction. This is as Allah says,

نُمَتِّعُهُمْ قَلِيلًا ثُمَّ نَضْطَرُّهُمْ إِلَىٰ عَذَابٍ غَلِيظٍ

(We let them enjoy for a little while, then in the end We shall oblige them to (enter) a great torment.)(31:24)

This is the end of the Tafsir Surat At-Tariq, and unto Allah is all praise and thanks.