Tafseer Ibn Kathir of AN NAHL [88]

(then, those who disbelieved will not be given leave.) meaning, they will not be allowed to offer any excuse, as Allah says:

(That will be a Day when they do not speak. And they will not be permitted to present any excuse) (77:35-36). Hence, Allah says:

(nor will they be allowed (to return to the world) to repent and ask for Allah's forgiveness. And once those who did wrong see) meaning those who associated others in worship with Allah,

(the torment, it will not decrease for them,) meaning it will not be reduced for them even for a moment.

(nor will they be given respite. ) meaning, it will not be delayed for them, rather they will be taken quickly from the place of gathering, with no calling to account. Then Hell will be brought forth, pulled by seventy thousand ropes, each of which is held by seventy thousand angels, and a neck will stretch forth from Hell towards the people, and it will expel a gust of hot air. No one will be left but will fall to his knees. Then it (the neck that is stretched forth) will say, ”I have been entrusted to deal with every stubborn, arrogant one who joined another god with Allah,'' and so and so, mentioning different types of people, as was reported in the Hadith. Then it will come down upon them and pick them up from where they are standing as a bird picks up a seed. Allah says:

(When it (Hell) sees them from a far place, they will hear its raging and its roaring. And when they are thrown into a narrow part of it, chained together, they will cry for destruction. Today, do not scream for one destruction, but scream repeatedly for destruction.) (25:12-14)

(And the guilty shall see the Fire and apprehend that they are about to fall into it. And they will find no way to avoid it.) (18:53)

(If only those who disbelieved knew (about the time) when they will not be able to protect their faces nor their backs from the Fire, and they have no help. Nay, it (the Fire) will come upon them all of a sudden and will perplex them, and they will have no power to avert it nor will they have any respite.) (21:39-40)   Then Allah tells us that their gods will disown them when they need them most. He says:

(And when those who associated partners with Allah see their partners) meaning, those whom they used to worship in this world.'

(they will say: ”Our Lord! These are our partners whom we used to call upon besides you.'' But they will throw their statements back at them (saying): ”You are indeed liars!'') i.e., those gods will say to them, `you are lying. We never commanded you to worship us.' Allah says:

(And who is more astray than one who calls upon others besides Allah, such as will not answer him till the Day of Resurrection, and who are (even) unaware of their invocations to them And when the people are gathered (on the Day of Resurrection), they (false deities) will become their enemies and will deny their worship,) (46:5-6)

(And they have taken gods besides Allah, that they might give them honor, power and glory. Nay, but they will deny their worship, and become their adversaries (on the Day of Resurrection).) (19:81-82) Al-Khalil ï´¿Ibrahimï´¾ said:

(but on the Day of Resurrection, you will disown each other) ï´¿29:25ï´¾ And Allah says:

(And it will be said (to them): ”Call upon your partners'') ﴿28:64﴾ And there are many other similar Ayat.

(And they will offer (their full) submission to Allah on that Day,) Qatadah and `Ikrimah said: ”They will humble themselves and surrender on that Day,'' i.e., they will all surrender to Allah, there will not be anyone who does not hear and obey. As Allah says:

(How clearly will they see and hear, the Day when they will appear before Us!) ï´¿19:38ï´¾ meaning, they will see and hear better than they have ever seen and heard before. And Allah says:

(And if you only could see when the guilty hang their heads before their Lord (saying): ”Our Lord! We have now seen and heard.'') ﴿32:12﴾

(And (all) faces shall be humbled before the Ever Living, the Sustainer.) ï´¿20:111ï´¾ meaning, they will humble and submit themselves.

(And they will offer (their full) submission to Allah on that Day, and what they falsely invented will wander away from them.) The things that they used to worship which were all based on fabrications and lies, will all disappear, and they will have no helper or supporter, and no one to turn to. Then Allah tells us:

(Those who disbelieved and tried to obstruct the path of Allah, for them We will add torment) meaning one punishment for their disbelief and another punishment for turning others away from following the truth, as Allah says:

(And they prevent others from him and they themselves keep away from him) ï´¿6:26ï´¾ meaning they forbade others to follow him and they themselves shunned him, but:

(they destroyed only themselves, while they do not realize it.) This is evidence that there will be varying levels of punishment for the disbelievers, just as there will be varying degrees of Paradise for the believers, as Allah says:

(For each one there is double (torment), but you know not.) ï´¿7:38ï´¾