Verse 16 and 17 in Surah Alhadeed

أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَن تَخْشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَمَا نَزَلَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَلَا يَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلُ فَطَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْأَمَدُ فَقَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ
Has not the Time arrived for the Believers that their hearts in all humility should engage in the remembrance of Allah and of the Truth which has been revealed (to them), and that they should not become like those to whom was given Revelation aforetime, but long ages passed over them and their hearts grew hard? For many among them are rebellious
transgressors

اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُحْيِي الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا قَدْ بَيَّنَّا لَكُمُ
الْآيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
Know that Allah gives life to the earth after its death! already have We shown the Signs plainly to you, that you may understand

My dear grandfather explained verse 16 as a calling from Allah addressing the believers. He is reminding them to have spirituality and God consciousness. And more importantly He is telling them in a subtle way: love Me so I will love you. And remember Me so I will remember you.

I also read another great reflection on this verse and the next one by my dear brother who said:

This is a powerful reminder indeed. It's a rhetorical question. Is now not the time? Of course it is the time. If not now then when? When's it's too late? Submit to Allah before it's too late.

Allah(swt) is giving us an example of those before whose hearts turned to stone because they did not remain steadfast in submission to Allah. But the next verse is a reminder as well that Allah is ever-loving and ever-merciful. It's starts with "know"... know with 100% certainty and conviction that Allah gives life to the earth after it's death. Likewise, he can soften your heart after it has turned to stone. So don't fret, don't give up. Return to Allah in complete submission. Allah has made his revelations clear for us so that we may understand, as the verse concludes.

May Allah make us from those who submit to Him in remembrance and love. Ameen.
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