وَلَا يَزَالُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فِى مِرْيَةٍ مِّنْهُ حَتَّىٰ تَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ بَغْتَةً أَوْ يَأْتِيَهُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمٍ عَقِيمٍ
11:18.
Important Words:
عقیم (destructive) is derived from عقم. They say عقمت المرأة i.e. the woman was or became barren. امرأة عقیم means, a barren woman, a woman that does not conceive or give birth to a child. یوم عقیم means, a severe fighting. یوم عقیم means, a day having no day after it; a destructive day, a day of hard fighting, so called because many women having lost their sons in the fighting become عقیم (Lane & Aqrab).
Commentary:
"Hour" in the verse signifies the final triumph of Islam. It may also refer to the Fall of Mecca, when the power of the disbelieving Quraish was finally broken. The fall took place quite suddenly. The Quraish had not had the least inkling of the approach of Muslim army till it reached the very gates of Mecca.
The words, "the punishment of a destructive day," may refer to any form of punishment, preferably to the day of the Battle of Badr.
This and the following two verses imply a prophecy about the ultimate triumph of Islam, and the defeat and discomfiture of disbelievers.
11:18.
"The Hour" signifies the final triumph of Islam. It may also refer to the Fall of Mecca, when the power of the disbelieving Quraish was finally and completely crushed. The Fall took place quite suddenly. The Quraish did not have the least inkling about the Muslim army till it had reached the very gates of Mecca.
Imra’atun ‘Aqimun means, a barren woman. Yaumun ‘Aqimun means, a destructive day, a day of hard fighting, so called because many women having lost their sons in the fighting become ‘Aqim (Lane).