[2397] This is a fast flash forward showing graphic snapshots of the coming true of the ‘definitely true’ promised fate of the rebellious, to further make the case for it.
[2398] “Those who Deny and die as Deniers, ˹as much as˺ Earth’s fill of gold will not be accepted from any of them, even if he were to ransom himself with it—for those is a painful Punishment and they will have no helpers” (3: 91).
[2399] When they come face to face with their inevitable end, the Deniers will feel deeply remorseful for their Denying but try to hide it from others (cf. al-Ṭabarī, al-Qurṭubī, al-Saʿdī). Profound remorse and sorrow is a type of self-punishment, which is, by no means, less severe than imposed punishment (cf. al-Ṭabarī, al-Qurṭubī, al-Saʿdī).
[2400] God Almighty rules Supreme and none can stop Him from bringing His will into reality (cf. al-Ṭabarī, al-Qurṭubī, al-Saʿdī); but most people are oblivious to this. Thus this aya begins with the attention-calling particle a-lā, translated here as ‘nay’ to impart a similar affective force (cf. Riḍā).
[2401] The Qur’an is pointed out here as a cautionary reminder and healing to the ailments of the heart that divert one from guidance; it is the way to avoid the dismal fate that the previous passage so vividly describes, as well as felicity in this life to those who Believe in it. Humanity are called upon to pay heed and save themselves.
[2402] Only the receptive will benefit from it (cf. al-Ṭabarī): “We send down of the Qur’an that which is a cure and a mercy for the Believers; it increases the wrongdoers in naught but loss” (17: 82); “Say ˹Muhammad˺” “It ˹the Qur’an˺ is a guidance and a healing for those who Believe, and those who do not Believe have an impairment in their ears, and it is a blindness for them; such are called from a place far off” (41: 44).
[2403] Believers always need to remember God’s great bounty by which He guided them to Islam and gave them the gift of the Qur’an to which any worldly gain is not even remotely comparable (cf. al-Ṭabarī, Ibn ʿAṭiyyah, Ibn ʿĀshūr): “Your Lord’s Mercy is better than what they hoard” (43: 32).
[2404] This passage points out how astray people can go when they are not guided by God through His revelations (cf. Abū Ḥayyān).
[2405] Here the Arabs are chided for their groundless, godless laws, which only provide evidence of their foolishness: “Say ˹Muhammad˺: “Would you ˹not˺ consider what Allah sent down to you as provision and you divided it into ˹some˺ lawful and ˹some˺ unlawful; did Allah give you permission ˹for this˺ or do you fabricate falsities against Allah?” (10: 59); “They also said: “These are prohibited livestock and crops which are only to be consumed by those whom we wish” – so they claimed – ˹other˺ livestock the backs of which were made forbidden, and ˹some˺ livestock over which they do not mention Allah’s Name, ascribing this falsely to Him; He will requite them for what they used concoct. *They also said: “Whatever is in the bellies of these livestock ˹if alive˺ is reserved exclusively for our males and is forbidden to our ˹female˺ mates”. But if it is ˹born˺ dead then it is shared with them; He will requite them for their designation—verily He is Most Wise, All-Knowing” (6: 138-139).
[2406] “On the Day of Judgement you will see those who lied about Allah with their faces darkened. Is Hell not a ˹fitting˺ home for the arrogant?” (39: 60)
[2407] This passage and the next provide a timely interval in the flow of the narrative and are meant to soothe and assuage the Believing community; that their pious deeds are well-recorded and that they are the better, more successful side (cf. al-Rāzī, Abū Ḥayyān).
[2408] The Believers are also implied in this address (cf. al-Wāḥidī, al-Wasīṭ, al-Qurṭubī, Ibn ʿAṭiyyah).
[2409] “He ˹Allah˺ has the keys of the Unseen, only He knows them. He knows ˹all˺ what is there in the land and sea; not a leaf that falls without Him knowing about it, not a seed in the ˹deepest recess of the˺ darkness of Earth, not a thing moist nor dry except ˹it˺ being in a clarifying book” (6: 59).