قُل إِنّي أَخافُ إِن عَصَيتُ رَبّي عَذابَ يَومٍ عَظيمٍ

Say: ‘Indeed, should I disobey my Lord, I fear the punishment of a tremendous day.’

EXPOSITION

Say: ‘Indeed, should I disobey my Lord, I fear the punishment of a tremendous day.’ This verse shows that any disobedience of God qualifies one for punishment on the Day of Resurrection (which is a tremendous day (83:5)). This is certain. But whether or not this punishment would be pardoned due to God’s forgiveness, an accepted repentance by the person, the good deeds of the person, intercession, or other means, is not assured. That is why the Prophet, at the pinnacle of piety and obedience, is still fearful of the punishment of a tremendous day for the slightest disobedience. When the Prophet is fearful of this, it befits everyone to be fearful of disobeying God.^{‎[1]Furqan, 25/305.} It is only a matter of deception and delusion that one feels overconfident in God’s infinite mercy (31:33, 35:5, 57:14, 82:6), and his inflated level of hope eradicates his fear of God’s punishment: No one feels secure from Allah’s devising except the people who are losers (7:99).

Of course, at the same time, those means of forgiveness are open, and it is very well possible that one’s disobedience may be forgiven. That is why the verse does not say: if I disobey God, I will be punished [for sure], but it says: if I disobey God, I fear lest I may be punished. One’s judgement is not finalised in this world, and that is why fear and hope both persist.^{‎[2]Razi, 26/432.}

INSIGHTS FROM OTHER TRADITIONS

The description of the hereafter as a tremendous day is also found in the Bible:

1. And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?^{‎[3]Joel 12:11.}

[1] Furqan, 25/305.
[2] Razi, 26/432.
[3] Joel 12:11.