Three Questions by a Christian and their Answers — Page 28
28 That is: And even if they see every sign, they will not be- lieve therein, so much so, that when they come to thee, they dispute with thee. And when there comes to them a sign, they say: 'We will never believe until we are given some- thing similar to that which Allah’s Messengers have been given. ' Say, 'I have come with a clear proof from my Lord, you see that proof and yet you reject it. That which you wish to hasten (punishment) is not within my power. Judgement lies with no one but Allah. He will make the truth clear and He is the Best of Judges. Surely, one day He will judge between you and me. Clear proofs of my Prophethood have come to you from my Lord: so whoever chooses to see, does so for his own good; and whoever turns blind does so to his own peril, and I am not a watcher over you. ' And they ask thee to hasten the punishment. Say, He has the power to send punishment upon you, from above you, or from beneath your feet, or to split you into groups and make you taste one another’s wrath. And say, all praise belongs to Allah; He will soon show you His signs, which you will recognize. Say, for you is the promise of a year 39 from which you cannot remain behind a single moment, nor can you get ahead of it. And they enquire of thee: Is it true? Say, Yea by my Lord, it is most true and you cannot thwart the fulfilment of God’s promises. We will 38 Al-Anbiy a’ , 21:38 [Publishers] 39 A 'day' in the verse means a year—an idiom found in Bible as well. Exactly a year after this came the first battle, the Battle of Badr, which brought dire punishment for the Meccans. [Author]