An-Nahl 16:47

<h2>How the Guilty can feel Secure</h2><p>Allah informs us about His patience, and how He delays the punishment for the sinners who do evil things and call others to do likewise, plotting to call others to do evil - even though He is able to make the earth swallow them or to bring His wrath upon them.</p><p>مِنْ حَيْثُ لاَ يَشْعُرُونَ</p><p>(from where they do not perceive it), meaning in such a way that they do not know where it comes from. As Allah says:</p><p>أَءَمِنتُمْ مَّن فِى السَّمَآءِ أَن يَخْسِفَ بِكُمُ الاٌّرْضَ فَإِذَا هِىَ تَمُورُ - أَمْ أَمِنتُمْ مِّن فِى السَّمَآءِ أَن يُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ حَـصِباً فَسَتَعْلَمُونَ كَيْفَ نَذِيرِ</p><p>(Do you feel secure that He Who is over the heaven (Allah), will not cause you to sink into the earth, when it quakes Or do you feel secure that He Who is over the heaven (Allah), will not send a storm of stones upon you Then you shall know how My warning really is.) (67:16-17).</p><p>أَوْ يَأْخُذَهُمْ فِى تَقَلُّبِهِمْ</p><p>(Or that He may punish them in the midst of their going to and fro) meaning, when they are busy with their daily business, travel, and other distracting activities. Qatadah and As-Suddi said:</p><p>تَقَلُّبِهِمْ</p><p>(Their going to and fro) means …

Or that He will not seize them with a gradual wasting? Lo! thy Lord is indeed Full of Pity, Merciful.

Or that He may not call them to account by a process of slow wastage - for thy Lord is indeed full of kindness and mercy.

Or that He may catch them with gradual wasting (of their wealth and health). Truly! Your Lord is indeed full of Kindness, Most Merciful?

Or that He will not seize them while in dread? Your Lord is Gentle and Merciful.