In the hereafter, disbelievers will find their time on earth short
18-4-2014 | IslamWeb
Question:
As-salaamu 3laikum, I have read many verses in the Qur’an indicating that in the akhirah, it will seem to the disbelievers as if they had only stayed on earth for a day or a very short time. I would like to know if this is exclusive to the disbelievers and if so, how will the time spent on earth seem to the believers once they are in the akhirah? Jazaak Allahu khair.
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His Slave and Messenger.
We have examined the scholarly opinions in this regard and both meanings are possible. There is a statement by Imaam At-Tabari 
implying that this statement is about the disbelievers. He commented on the verse that says (what means): {We are most knowing of what they say when the best of them in manner will say, "You remained not but one day."} [Quran 20:104] He said: “By relating that they will make that statement on the Day of Judgment, Allaah means to inform His slaves that the disbelievers will go through so many horrors and will be extremely terrified to the extent that they will forget how long they had spent in the worldly life and the pleasures they had savored on earth. This will drive those who are the wisest, the most mindful and smartest among them to say, “We have been in the worldly life for only one day.”
The well-versed scholar Ash-Shinqeeti commented on the verse that says (what means): {They will say, "We remained a day or part of a day; ask those who enumerate."} [Quran 23:113] He said, “This verse indicates that the disbelievers on the Day of Judgment will claim that they had spent only one day or part of a day on earth. However, other verses give a different indication. For example, Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means):
· {They will murmur among themselves, "You remained not but ten [days in the world]”} [Quran 20:103]
· {And the Day the Hour appears the criminals will swear they had remained but an hour} [Quran 30:55]
He commented, “The reconciliation between the verses is derived from the Quran; some of the disbelievers will have stronger perception and wiser minds, and will reach a more sound opinion. Those are the ones who will say that the time they spent in the worldly life was only one day. Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means): {We are most knowing of what they say when the best of them in manner will say, "You remained not but one day."} [Quran 20:104] This is indicative of the fact that they will differ in the estimation of the duration of their stay on earth; and Allaah knows best.” [Daf‘ Eehaam Al-Idhtiraab ‘an Aayaat Al-Kitaab]
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Some scholars of Tafseer considered that this statement is general, referring to all people. Al-Haafith Ibn Katheer said, “Allaah, The Exalted, reminds people of the Hour and resurrection, as people will be resurrected from their graves to the places of gathering: the disbelievers will say that the worldly life had been nothing but one hour of day. Allaah says (what means):
· {It will be, on the Day they see it, as though they had not remained [in the world] except for an afternoon or a morning thereof.} [Quran 79:46]
· {The Day the Horn will be blown. And We will gather the criminals, that Day, blue-eyed. * They will murmur among themselves, "You remained not but ten [days in the world]."* We are most knowing of what they say when the best of them in manner will say, "You remained not but one day."} [Quran 20:102-104]
· {And the Day the Hour appears the criminals will swear they had remained but an hour. Thus they were deluded.* But those who were given knowledge and faith will say, "You remained the extent of Allaah's decree until the Day of Resurrection, and this is the Day of Resurrection, but you did not used to know."} [Quran 30:55-56]
All these verses indicate that the life of this world will seem short in the Hereafter. Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means): {[Allaah] will say, "How long did you remain on earth in number of years?"* They will say, "We remained a day or part of a day; ask those who enumerate."* He will say, "You stayed not but a little - if only you had known.} [Quran 23:112-114]” [End of quote]
Ibn Katheer also says: “{…’You stayed not but a little} [Quran 23:114] meaning a very short time in any estimate; the verse goes on {…if only you had known.} [Quran 23:114] Had you known that fact, you would not have favored the fleeting worldly life over the eternal Hereafter and would not have wronged yourselves or incurred the wrath of your Lord in such a short time. Had you adhered to patience in obeying and worshipping your Lord, you would have been the victors - as were the believers. It was narrated by Ibn Abi Haatim on the authority of his father from Muhammad ibn Al-Wazeer from Al-Waleed from Safwaan from Ayfa' ibn ‘Abd Al-Kalaa‘i that the Messenger of Allaah said: “As Allaah admits the residents of Paradise into Paradise and the denizens of Hellfire into Hellfire, He shall say, ‘O residents of Paradise! How long had you stayed on the Earth?’ They shall reply, “One day or perhaps less than a day.’ He shall say, ‘How fruitful your stay for one day or less was as you won My mercy, pleasure, and Paradise! Dwell eternally therein.’ Then, Allaah shall address the denizens of Hellfire, ‘O residents of Hellfire. How long had you stayed on the Earth?’ They shall reply, ‘One day or perhaps less than a day.’ Allaah shall say, ‘What a losing bargain! You had incurred My Hellfire and wrath in one day or even less. Dwell eternally therein.’”” [End of quote]
Had this Hadeeth been authentic, it would have been considered evidence in this regard; however, Al-Haafith Ibn Hajar considered it weak. He said, “The chain of narrators is reliable; however the Hadeeth is Mursal (incompletely transmitted; the chain of narrators ending at a Taabi‘i, without the reference of the Companion quoting from the Prophet) or Mu‘dhal (which has two or more narrators missing from its chain consecutively); Ayfa' did not hear any Hadeeth from a Companion; rather Ibn Abi Haatim reported the Hadeeth as related by Raashid ibn Sa‘d (a Taabi‘i).”
Allaah Knows best.