'And if Allah were to hold the people accountable'; that is: the Greatest King; who has the attributes of perfection; 'all of them'; and since the context is for wisdom; and injustice - which is placing something in its wrong position - is greatly contrary to it; and polytheism - which is the context of this - is the darkest of injustices; He said - expressing with the comprehensive description of what has occurred from them in action; and what they are encompassed by; and it is a description of them; and they have not yet directly engaged in it by action; He said -: 'for their injustice'; that is: He treats them as one who looks at his opponent; treating him purely with justice; without regard to favor; and He expressed with the form of mutual action; because its indication of discussion is more eloquent; 'what remains'; and since the situation necessitated mentioning injustice; and the context of this verse is harsher than the context of 'Fatir'; He expressed with what encompasses every creature of the earth; whether it is on the surface; or in the depths; submerged in water; or not; so He said (the Exalted): 'upon it'; that is: the earth; it is known that it is their place of settlement; indicated by the soil; and He emphasized the negation; so He said (the Exalted): 'of a creature'; that is: a soul that moves upon the surface of the earth; because all are either unjust and will be punished for their injustice; or they are from the interests of the unjust; so He destroys them as a punishment for the unjust; or because He created them only for mankind; so if He destroys them; He destroys them; as occurred close to it in the time of Noah - blessings and peace be upon him -; 'but'; He does not do that to them; for He 'delays them'; granting them respite by His wisdom; and His forbearance; 'to a specified term'; which He set for them in the past. And when knowledge cut off the end of what will be; it caused the informing of what will be in it; so He said: 'So when their term comes'; which He decreed for taking them at His hands; 'they will not be delayed'; that is: from it; 'an hour'; that is: a time that is commonly recognized among you; then He added to the entire conditional statement from the beginning His saying (the Exalted): 'and they will not advance it by anything.'