Allah says,

﴿فَاصْبِرْ صَبْراً جَمِيلاً ﴾

(So be patient, with a good patience.) meaning, `be patient, O Muhammad, with your people's rejection and their seeking to hasten the torment since they think it will not occur.' Allah says in another Ayah,

﴿يَسْتَعْجِلُ بِهَا الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهَا وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مُشْفِقُونَ مِنْهَا وَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهَا الْحَقُّ﴾

(Those who believe not therein seek to hasten it, while those believe are fearful of it, and know that it is the very truth.) (42:18) Thus, Allah says,

﴿إِنَّهُمْ يَرَوْنَهُ بَعِيداً ﴾

(Verily, they see it (the torment) afar off.) meaning, the happening of the torment and the establishment of the Hour (Day of Judgement). The disbelievers see this as something that is farfetched. The word "Ba`id'' here means that which is impossible to occur.

﴿وَنَرَاهُ قَرِيباً ﴾

(But We see it (quite) near.) meaning, the believers believe that its occurrence is near, even though its time of occurrence is unknown and no one knows when it will be except Allah. All of what is approaching then it is near and it will definitely happen.

﴿يَوْمَ تَكُونُ السَّمَآءُ كَالْمُهْلِ - وَتَكُونُ الْجِبَالُ كَالْعِهْنِ - وَلاَ يَسْـَلُ حَمِيمٌ حَمِيماً - يُبَصَّرُونَهُمْ يَوَدُّ الْمُجْرِمُ لَوْ يَفْتَدِي مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمِئِذٍ بِبَنِيهِ - وَصَـحِبَتِهِ وَأَخِيهِ - وَفَصِيلَتِهِ الَّتِى تُـْوِيهِ - وَمَن فِى الاٌّرْضِ جَمِيعاً ثُمَّ يُنجِيهِ - كَلاَّ إِنَّهَا لَظَى - نَزَّاعَةً لِّلشَّوَى - تَدْعُواْ مَنْ أَدْبَرَ وَتَوَلَّى - وَجَمَعَ فَأَوْعَى ﴾

(8. The Day that the sky will be like the Al-Muhl.) (9. And the mountains will be like `Ihn.) (10. And no friend will ask a friend,) (11. Though they shall be made to see one another, the criminal would desire to ransom himself from the punishment of that Day by his children.) (12. And his wife and his brother,) (13. And his Fasilah who sheltered him,) (14. And all that are in the earth, so that it might save him.) (15. By no means! Verily, it will be the fire of Hell,) (16. Nazza`ah the Shawa!) (17. Calling (all) such as turn their backs and turn away their faces.) (18. And collect (wealth) and hide it (from spending it in the cause of Allah).)