53 Preface وَيَستَعجِلونَكَ بِالعَذابِ ۚ وَلَولا أَجَلٌ مُسَمًّى لَجاءَهُمُ العَذابُ وَلَيَأتِيَنَّهُم بَغتَةً وَهُم لا يَشعُرونَYusuf AliThey ask thee to hasten on the Punishment1 (for them): had it not been for a term (of respite) appointed, the Punishment would certainly have come to them: and it will certainly reach them,- of a sudden, while they perceive not! Cf. 22:47 and n. 2826. The rejecters of Faith throw out a challenge out of bravado: “Let us see if you can hasten the punishment on us!” This is a vain taunt. God’s Plan will take its course, and it can neither be delayed nor hastened. It is out of His Mercy that He gives respite to sinners? in order that they may have a chance of repentance. If they do not repent, the Punishment must certainly come to them?and on a sudden, before they perceive that it is coming! And then it will be too late for repentance.