The Ayah: 'The Commandment ordained by Allah has come to pass, so, seek not to hasten it'

Q 1: Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: أتى أمر الله فلا تستعجلوه [The Commandment (the Hour or the punishment of disbelievers and polytheists) ordained by Allâh has come to pass, so, seek not to hasten it]. (Part No. 3; Page No. 164) It is known that the verb "أتى" (ata) in Arabic is a past tense, while "تستعجلوه" (fala tasta`jiluh) denotes the present. We would like Your Eminence to explain this Ayah (Qur'anic verse) for us to understand it.

A: The following Ayah: أَتَى أَمْرُ اللَّهِ [The Commandment ordained by Allâh has come to pass] means that the Day of Resurrection is drawing near. This meaning is expressed in the past tense in Arabic (the translation of the meanings is rendered in the present perfect) to stress that the Day of Resurrection will undoubtedly take place. The imminence of the Day of Resurrection which is stated in this Ayah mentioned above was also stressed in other Ayahs. For example, Allah (Exalted be He) says: اقْتَرَبَ لِلنَّاسِ حِسَابُهُمْ وَهُمْ فِي غَفْلَةٍ مُعْرِضُونَ [Drawn near to mankind their reckoning, while they heedlessly turn away]. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) also says: اقْتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَةُ وَانْشَقَّ الْقَمَرُ [The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has been cleft asunder]. Using the past tense to indicate a future event to stress the imminence of this event can be found in many Ayahs in the Qur'an. For example, Allah (Exalted be He) says: وَنُفِخَ فِي الصُّورِ فَصَعِقَ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلاَّ مَنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ [And the Trumpet was blown, and all who were in the heavens and all who were on the earth swooned away, except him whom Allâh willed]. And: وَنَادَى أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ أَصْحَابَ النَّارِ [And the dwellers of Paradise called out to the dwellers of the Fire]. And: وَأَشْرَقَتِ الْأَرْضُ بِنُورِ رَبِّهَا وَوُضِعَ الْكِتَابُ وَجِيءَ بِالنَّبِيِّينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَقُضِيَ بَيْنَهُمْ بِالْحَقِّ وَهُمْ لاَ يُظْلَمُونَ [And the earth shone with the light of its Lord (Allâh, when He will come to judge among men): and the Book was placed (open); and the Prophets and the witnesses were brought forward; and it was judged between them with truth, and they would not be wronged]. وَوُفِّيَتْ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَا عَمِلَتْ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَفْعَلُونَ [And each person was paid in full for what he did; and He is Best Aware of what they do]. وَسِيقَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِلَى جَهَنَّمَ [And those who disbelieved were driven to Hell]. (Part No. 3; Page No. 165)