Surah al-Fajr, ALLAH IS EVER WATCHFUL(ayat 14)

    ALLAH IS EVER WATCHFUL:

                                                     ina rabaka la bil marsaad.

14) No doubt, your Lord is waiting in ambush

The term /mirsad/ is derived from /rasada/ which means ‘lie in wait’ and also’ an ambush, or a place of observation'. It is usually used for a place where persons have to travel through a pass in which someone is lying in wait to strike them. It is a place where someone lies in wait for an enemy, waiting for the perfect moment to ambush them.

Allah (swt) is informing us that he is already in position and ready to attack the Quraysh.  No one should think that he can escape from the divine punishment, because all are under His authority and Power and whenever He wills, He may administer His punishment.

Allah (swt) does not make clear to the disbelievers who the target is by not saying for example, ‘rabbaka la bilmirsaad la hum (for them)’. By not specifying the target the one opposing the message is kept anxious through the suspense of knowing that Allah (swt) could attack and punish anyone at anytime. There is no particular place and time and does not lie in wait in a pass, but, it means that His Power is over all transgressors, tyrants and sinners. Before Allah was talking about entire nations, now He will focus on the persona of the individual human being. How is man really like towards his Master?

“/mirsad/ is a bridge on ‘the Way over Hell' on which a person who has transgressed another person cannot pass”. 

In fact, the divine ambush is not limited merely to the Hereafter and that known passageway over Hell, it is also watchful of the transgressors in this world. The punishment cast on the aforementioned three groups of people is an illustration of this.

The term

/rabbika /'your Lord'

touches on the meaning that Allah's law, for the punishment of the ancient, arrogant nations, is, also true for every sect including one's own, which is a solace for the Prophet (S) and the believers both, to know that their spiteful enemies cannot escape from the wrath of Allah and the disbelievers should also know that those who are more powerful and miserly than themselves can be destroyed easily by a violent storm, a sound or even lightning.

Then, by doing their wrong actions, how do they think that they can be saved from divine punishment?

In a tradition from the holy Prophet (S), it says:

“Ruh-al-Amin (Gabriel) informed me that at the time when Almighty Allah gathers, in the Hereafter, all creatures from the earliest ones to the latest ones, He will bring Hell nigh and set

/sirat/ ‘the way'

over it. The way is thinner than a hair and sharper than a sword, and there are three bridges over it. On the first bridge honesty, grace and affection are waiting; on the second one, prayer; and on the third, Justice of the Lord of the worlds.

All people will be ordered to pass over it, then those who had been dishonest and cruel will stop on the first bridge, and those who had been neglectful in their prayers will stop on the second bridge, and those who finally pass on to the third will be faced with the Justice of Allah.

[Verily, your Lord is Ever Watchful (over them).]

Allah watches over His creation in that which they do, and He will reward them in this life and in the Hereafter based upon what each of them strove for. He will bring all of the creation before Him and He will judge them with justice. He will requite each of them with that which he deserves, for He is far removed from injustice and tyranny. [TafsirIbnKathir]

Man's action and inactivity are under the Divine Watch:

“ Verily, your Lord is Ever Watchful.”

(Al-Fajr, 89:14)

 This is to say that all your movements and repose; thoughts, intentions, ambitions; what you show and what you withhold; all your secrets; all of this is watched by Allah Most High. At any time you are under the Divine Watch, under close observation.
 When one feels that he is watched, he cannot sleep as he usually does. So how about the Divine Watch of He Who knows all secrets, and even what is still more hidden than them? Say whatever you want, He knows your intentions and secrets, your purpose for this invitation, for that meeting or appointment, picnic or journey; He knows every single thing about you.
 Therefore, a wife who knows this ayah cannot wrong her husband, nor can her husband wrong her when he knows what "Verily, your Lord is Ever Watchful" means. And if the employer, who knows that his employee necessarily needs to work, that this employee works with him out of pure necessity, exploits this need to reduce his wages and increase his working hours, he should know that "Verily, your Lord is Ever Watchful". Also when you know that the buyer needs some product, and you raise its price and hide its defect, you had better remember that "Verily, your Lord is Ever Watchful" … By Allah, this ayah is more than sufficient.
 By Allah, apart from Whom there is no other god, if we deal properly with this ayah, all our relations will be well-conducted –at work, at home, in the neighbourhood, and everywhere else, since Allah Most High knows who is doing wrong. I say frequently to the spouses "Verily, your Lord is Ever Watchful" … If you wrong her and transgress her rights, and if she is neglectful and transgresses your rights, remember "Verily, your Lord is Ever Watchful" …

“Truly strong is the Grip of your Lord.”

(al-Buruj, 85:12)

 Anyone should tremble on reading this ayah, and he who doesn't is a fool.

The highest rank before Allah is that of fear (of Him):

 Who fears Allah most is ranked highest by Him … 

“ Verily, your Lord is Ever Watchful.”

 Perhaps you control yourself more when you know that there is a recorder at the meeting, and you entreat your friend to erase your words, and he doesn't, not even as a joke. The presence of the recorder makes you control yourself; and this control still increases when you know that you are videoed. This is the self-discipline that should exist with regard to the continuous Divine Watch, in private and in public. For this reason, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

"As for he who has no piety that prevents him from disobedience to Allah when he is alone, Allah will not care in the least for his deeds."

 Do you offer your salah as sincerely in your house as you do if you are behind the imam at the mosque? 

“Verily, your Lord is Ever Watchful.”

 Do you hide your faults at home and show people your virtues? 

“Verily, your Lord is Ever Watchful.”

 When this ayah, therefore, is put into practice, one will definitely control one's behavior, as much privately as publicly and as much publicly as privately. There will be no dualism or duplicity; one's intentions will be identical to one's words. Therefore:

“The Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail,
But only he (will prosper) who brings to Allah a sound heart.”

(Ash-Shu'ara, 26:88-89)