Surah An Nahl Tafseer

How the Guilty can feel Secure

Allah tells:

أَفَأَمِنَ الَّذِينَ مَكَرُواْ السَّيِّيَاتِ أَن يَخْسِفَ اللّهُ بِهِمُ الَارْضَ أَوْ يَأْتِيَهُمُ الْعَذَابُ

Do then those who devise evil plots feel secure that Allah will not cause them to sink into the earth, or that torment will not seize them,

Allah informs us about His patience, and how He delays the punishment for the sinners who do evil things and call others to do likewise, plotting to call others to do evil - even though He is able to make the earth swallow them or to bring His wrath upon them.

مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ

from where they do not perceive it,

meaning in such a way that they do not know where it comes from.

As Allah says:

أَءَمِنتُمْ مَّن فِى السَّمَأءِ أَن يَخْسِفَ بِكُمُ الاٌّرْضَ فَإِذَا هِىَ تَمُورُ

أَمْ أَمِنتُمْ مِّن فِى السَّمَأءِ أَن يُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ حَـصِباً فَسَتَعْلَمُونَ كَيْفَ نَذِيرِ

Do you feel secure that He Who is over the heaven (Allah), will not cause you to sink into the earth, when it quakes! Or do you feel secure that He Who is over the heaven (Allah), will not send a storm of stones upon you! Then you shall know how My warning really is. (67:16-17)