Surah Ta-Ha 20:15
سُورَةُ طه · Meccan · Verse 15 of 135
إِنَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ ءَاتِيَةٌ أَكَادُ أُخْفِيهَا لِتُجْزَىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍۭ بِمَا تَسْعَىٰ
Translation
The Hour is coming––though I choose to keep it hidden––for each soul to be rewarded for its labour.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This profound verse is part of Allah's initial communication to Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) at the sacred valley of Tuwa, immediately following the declaration of His Oneness. It lays down a foundational truth, ensuring Musa understands a core principle of faith right from the start. Allah Himself is speaking directly to Musa, revealing a vital aspect of the Day of Judgment.
The Certainty of the Hour
Allah states, "إِنَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ ءَاتِيَةٌ" (Indeed, the Hour is coming). This opening emphasizes absolute certainty. The Arabic word "inَّ" (inna) acts as a powerful affirmation, leaving no doubt about the advent of the Hour. It's not a question of *if*, but *when*.
The Mystery of Its Timing
Then comes the striking phrase: "أَكَادُ أُخْفِيهَا" (I almost conceal it). This particular wording has prompted deep reflection among scholars. The verb "أَكَادُ" (akādu) typically means "I almost" or "I am close to." In common Arabic usage, if you say "I almost didn't do something," it implies you *did* do it. Conversely, "I almost did something" implies you *didn't* quite do it. This created a seeming paradox here, as Allah *does* conceal the Hour's exact time.
Scholars like al-Razi offer several ways to understand this. One interpretation is that "akādu" simply indicates proximity without dictating whether the action has fully occurred. Another view, mentioned by Zamakhshari, suggests the word "أُخْفِيها" (ukhfīha) itself can have two opposite meanings: "to conceal" or, less commonly, "to reveal," derived from different linguistic roots or by the "hamza of removal" (meaning "to remove its concealment"). If it means "to reveal," then "I almost reveal it" would mean its coming is very close, as stated in other verses like "The Hour has drawn near."
However, the more common and contextually sound understanding, affirmed by al-Razi and others, is that Allah is indeed emphasizing the concealment of its exact time. When Allah says "I almost conceal it from Myself," it's understood as a hyperbolic expression, a way to convey the extreme degree of its secrecy, using a manner of speech familiar to Arabs. It powerfully communicates that if something could be hidden even from the Knower of all things, it is certainly hidden from creation. This secrecy serves a profound purpose.
The Purpose of Recompense
The verse concludes with "لِتُجْزَىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍۭ بِمَا تَسْعَىٰ" (so that every soul may be recompensed for what it strives for). The "lam" (لِ) at the beginning of "litujza" denotes cause or purpose. The entire reason for the Hour, and indeed, for the secrecy surrounding its exact timing, is divine justice. "تَسْعَىٰ" (tas'a), meaning "strives," is a beautiful and expansive word. As Ibn Ashur notes, it's a metaphor for all actions and efforts a person undertakes, good or bad.
The wisdom in concealing the Hour's arrival, as al-Razi explains, is to prevent people from delaying good deeds or repentance until the last moment. If the time were known, it might tempt individuals to indulge in wrongdoing, planning to repent just before the end. By keeping it hidden, Allah encourages continuous vigilance, earnest striving, and sincere devotion, knowing that accountability can come at any moment. This ensures that every soul is truly recompensed for its genuine efforts, not just last-minute calculations.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jalalayn, al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir)
Worldly Mirror
This profound verse from Surah Taha unveils a fundamental truth that guides our existence. Allah, in His infinite wisdom, declares the certain coming of the Hour – the Day of Judgment – and reveals a key reason for its timing being hidden from us. This declaration, initially to Prophet Musa, resonates deeply with every individual, inviting us to examine our lives through its illuminating mirror.
The Inevitable Reckoning
Allah begins by stating, "إِنَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ ءَاتِيَةٌ" (Indeed, the Hour is coming). This isn't a mere possibility, but an absolute certainty, as explained in al-Muyassar's plain meaning. For each one of us, this truth should pierce through the distractions of daily life, reminding us that this worldly journey has an endpoint. It’s a call to inner reflection: are we living with an awareness of this eventual return to our Creator? Sayyid Qutb highlights that an attentive heart, mindful of the afterlife, navigates life's challenges with greater care, avoiding missteps. This isn't just about individual awareness; it's a foundational belief that shapes the moral compass of any community that truly embraces it, urging collective responsibility and righteousness.
The Wisdom of Hidden Timing
The verse continues, "أَكَادُ أُخْفِيهَا" (I almost conceal it). Allah almost conceals the timing of the Hour even from Himself, emphasizing its profound secrecy. Why this mystery? As Ibn al-Jawzi observes, "From not knowing when his enemy will attack, one is more cautious." Similarly, al-Munir explains that this concealment serves as both a warning and an encouragement to avoid procrastination in repentance and good deeds. If its precise moment were known, humanity might either grow complacent or descend into heedlessness until the last moment. Sayyid Qutb beautifully suggests that this divine secrecy keeps us striving, exploring, and actively engaged with life's purpose, rather than becoming stagnant. On a personal level, this fosters constant vigilance and humility, knowing that our time – and the world's – is entirely in Allah's hands.
The Purpose of Ultimate Justice
The ultimate reason for the Hour is laid bare: "لِتُجْزَىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍۭ بِمَا تَسْعَىٰ" (so that every soul may be recompensed for what it strives for). This is the essence of divine justice. Every effort, every intention, every good deed or wrongdoing, whether visible or hidden, will be accounted for. This truth compels us to look inward at our character flaws and our aspirations, asking: What am I truly striving for? What kind of legacy am I building?
This principle extends beyond the individual to our relational and societal roles. How we treat our families, friends, and the wider community, whether with kindness or injustice, all fall under "what it strives for." Sayyid Qutb notes that this world cannot achieve complete justice, making the Hour essential for perfect recompense. This lens, therefore, encourages us to live with a heightened sense of accountability, knowing that genuine justice awaits, inspiring us to cultivate goodness in our inner selves and manifest it in our interactions with the world around us.
Sources: Israr Ahmad (Bayan ul Quran), Sayyid Qutb (Fi Zilal al-Quran), Tazkirul Quran, Ibn al-Jawzi (Zad al-Masir), al-Munir (Wahba al-Zuhayli)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Ta-Ha 20:15 is discussed in 10 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Ta-Ha 20:15 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.