أَزِفَتِ الآزِفَةُ

The imminent [hour] is near at hand.

EXEGESIS

Azifat (is near at hand) and al-āzifah (the imminent) both come from azaf meaning shortness of time, and it is called so due to it being close at hand.^{‎[1]Raghib, p. 75. Despite the Quran’s repeated warnings about the near at hand hour, it will still take many by surprise, and that is because they are in a heedless state regarding it: They are certainly losers who deny the encounter with Allah. When the hour overtakes them suddenly, they will say: ‘Alas for us, for what we neglected in it!’ (6:31).} Āzifah insinuates the final hour, or the Day of Judgement, as per the verse, Warn them of the Imminent Day (yawm al-āzifah) (40:18).^{‎[2]Tibyan, 9/440; Tabrisi, 9/277; Tabari, 27/48; Mizan, 19/51.}

Azifat is the past tense of the verb, which is used to emphasise how imminent it is, like in the verse, Allah’s edict is coming!^{‎[3]Atā, literally ‘came’ or ‘has come’.} So do not seek to hasten it (16:1), or, The hour has drawn near (54:1).

Per all the above, the sentence would literally translate as: That which is close at hand has drawn near.

EXPOSITION

Although God has made nations and peoples partially taste the outcome of their actions already in this world, He reminds all that this shall very soon be followed by a full reckoning. In keeping with the atmosphere of mystery in the surah, the Day of Judgement is indirectly referenced simply as that which is imminent, as per the style set in earlier verses.

Many verses of the Quran repeatedly emphasise the imminence of the final hour, such as, the matter of the hour is just like the twinkling of an eye, or [even] swifter (16:77), and, What do you know, maybe the hour is near (33:63). This imminence can be understood in two ways. Firstly, that for God – who exists outside time – all things are imminent as past, present, and future are human concepts and apply only to those that are temporally limited. Secondly, in the vast scale of the galactic time of creation and the hereafter, some centuries is nothing.

We may also note the change in rhyme that pairs this and the next verse. This serves to highlight them and the importance of the imminent Day of Judgement.

INSIGHTS FROM OTHER TRADITIONS

1. Truly, truly I say to you, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.^{‎[4]John 5:25.}
2. The end of all things is near. Therefore, be solemn and sober so you can pray.^{‎[5]1 Peter 4:7.}

[1] Raghib, p. 75. Despite the Quran’s repeated warnings about the near at hand hour, it will still take many by surprise, and that is because they are in a heedless state regarding it: They are certainly losers who deny the encounter with Allah. When the hour overtakes them suddenly, they will say: ‘Alas for us, for what we neglected in it!’ (6:31).
[2] Tibyan, 9/440; Tabrisi, 9/277; Tabari, 27/48; Mizan, 19/51.
[3] Atā, literally ‘came’ or ‘has come’.
[4] John 5:25.
[5] 1 Peter 4:7.