Quran Universe
38:88

وَلَتَعۡلَمُنَّ نَبَأَهُۥ بَعۡدَ حِينِۭ

WalataAAlamunna nabaahu baAAda heenin

And you will surely know [the truth of] its information after a time."

Word by word
  1. وَلَتَعۡلَمُنَّAnd surely you will know
  2. نَبَأَهُۥits information
  3. بَعۡدَafter
  4. حِينِۭa time
Sad · 38:88Makkah

And you will surely know its truth after a while.

Every person will see it confirmed

When it becomes clear
its truthwill be confirmed
after
deathQatadah
the ResurrectionIkrimah
When to believe
once I see itthen it is too late
nowwhile it still helps

Ibn Kathir says it means you will see confirmation that what he says is true, and soon. Qatadah said after death. Ikrimah said on the Day of Resurrection. There is no contradiction, because whoever dies enters the matters of that Day.

Everyone will know eventually. The question is only when you know it: now, while it can shape your mornings and your choices, or later, when it simply confirms. Knowing now is the mercy.

I will be certain about all this when I see it for myself.

Everyone will see it is true in the end, so I let it change me now.

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Tafsir Ibn Kathir (shared passage from 38:86)

Say: "No wage do I ask of you for this, nor am I one of the Mutakallifin. (86)"It is only a Reminder for all the creatures. (87)"And you shall certainly know the truth of it after a while. (88)

Allah says: 'Say, O Muhammad, to these idolators: I do not ask you to give me any reward from the goods of this world in return for the Message which I convey to you and the sincere advice I offer.'

وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُتَكَلِّفِينَ

(nor am I one of the Mutakallifin.) means, 'and I do not add anything to that which Allah has told me. Whatever I am commanded to do, I do it, and I do not add anything or take anything away. By doing this I am seeking the Face of Allah and the Hereafter.'

Sufyan Ath-Thawri, narrated from Al-A'mash and Mansur from Abu Ad-Duha that Masruq said, "We went to 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud, may Allah be pleased with him. He said, 'O people! Whoever knows a thing should say it, and whoever does not know should say, 'Allah knows best.'" It is part of knowledge, when one does not know, to say "Allah knows best." For Allah said to your Prophet ﷺ:

قُلْ مَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُتَكَلِّفِينَ

(Say: "No wage do I ask of you for this, nor am I one of the Mutakallifin.") This was reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.

إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِلْعَالَمِينَ

(It is only a Reminder for all the creatures.) means, the Qur'an is a reminder for all those who are held accountable, men and Jinn. This was the view of Ibn 'Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him. This Ayah is like the Ayat:

لِأُنْذِرَكُمْ بِهِ وَمَنْ بَلَغَ

(that I may therewith warn you and whomsoever it may reach)(6:19), and

وَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِهِ مِنَ الْأَحْزَابِ فَالنَّارُ مَوْعِدُهُ ۚ 

(but those of the sects that reject it, the Fire will be their promised meeting place)(11:17).

وَلَتَعْلَمُنَّ نَبَأَهُ

(And you shall certainly know the truth of it) means, 'you will see confirmation that what he says is true.'

بَعْدَ حِينٍ

(after a while.) means, soon. Qatadah said, "After death. 'Ikrimah said, "It means, on the Day of Resurrection." There is no contradiction between the two views, because whoever dies comes under the rulings of the Day of Resurrection.

This is the end of the Tafsir of Surah Sad. All praise and gratitude is due to Allah, and Allah may He be glorified and exalted, knows best.