We Have Warned You of a Near Punishment — The Record of Deeds
asbab
Level: basic
makki-events
as-033
يَوۡمَ يَنظُرُ ٱلۡمَرۡءُ مَا قَدَّمَتۡ يَدَاهُ
— النبأ 40
Verse: "We have warned you of a near punishment — the day when man will see what his hands have put forth." (78:40)
The final direct warning: After narrating all scenes of Judgment Day throughout the surah — comes the explicit nearby warning.
"Near punishment": Everything that is coming is near — Judgment Day is "near" because it is certainly arriving.
"What his hands put forth": The hands symbolize action — everything you did in your life is embodied and presented before you.
Source: Ibn Kathir (8/329); Al-Sadi; Al-Qurtubi (19/203)
Question: What does "near punishment" mean at the end of Surah An-Naba?
Answer: Everything coming is near — Judgment Day is "near" because of its certainty, not necessarily proximity in time. This creates urgency in preparation.