وَلَا تَحۡسَبَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَٰفِلًا عَمَّا يَعۡمَلُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُؤَخِّرُهُمۡ لِيَوۡمٍ تَشۡخَصُ فِيهِ ٱلۡأَبۡصَٰرُ
And never think that Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers do. He only delays them [i.e., their account] for a Day when eyes will stare [in horror].
Why does this ayah come right after those beautiful supplications that Abraham (peace be upon him) made for his family and his descendants?
The context here is of great importance. The Quraysh, who were torturing the Muslims in Makkah, claimed to be descended from Abraham (peace be upon him). When they heard these ayahs, they may have assumed that, simply because of their lineage, they had automatically earned a share in Abraham’s supplications.
But Allah clears this up at once: without faith and righteous deeds, a biological bond of lineage means nothing.
These beautiful supplications do not include the Quraysh who commit oppression.
At the same time, this ayah also serves another purpose for the oppressed Muslims.
When someone tells you to be patient in the face of persecution and oppression, the natural human reaction is: “I am being patient, but what about them? Are you going to do something about them?”
It is like when one child wrongs another and the parent says, “Be patient”; the child who was wronged replies: “I know, but are you at least going to do something to them?”
This is exactly the consolation Allah gives the Muslims. Never think that He is غَٰفِلًا (unaware) of what these wrongdoers do.
The choice of words is extremely powerful: وَلَا تَحۡسَبَنَّ, “Never, ever think.” It carries a strong emphasis.
He sees everything. He knows everything.
إِنَّمَا يُؤَخِّرُهُمۡ
He only delays them [i.e., their account].
This delay stems neither from forgetfulness nor from inability; it is strategic.
لِيَوۡمٍ تَشۡخَصُ فِيهِ ٱلۡأَبۡصَٰرُ
For a Day when eyes will stare [in horror].
The word تَشۡخَصُ describes eyes locked in a state of utter horror, unable to move or to blink.