His saying, exalted and majestic is He: "If only those who disbelieved knew when they will not be able to avert the Fire from their faces nor from their backs, nor will they be helped." "Rather, it will come upon them suddenly, and it will bewilder them, and they will not be able to repel it, nor will they be given respite." "And certainly, messengers were mocked before you, so what befell those who mocked them was that which they used to mock."

The response to "if only" has been omitted for brevity, as the meaning of the words indicates it. The extent of the punishment has been left vague because it is more eloquent and awe-inspiring than stating it explicitly. This omission is similar to His saying, exalted and majestic is He: "And if there were a Qur'an by which mountains were moved or the earth were cut up or the dead were spoken to" [Ar-Ra'd: 31]. The omitted part in response to this verse is: when they hastened it, and similar to that. His saying, exalted and majestic is He: "when they will not be able to avert the Fire from their faces" refers to the Day of Resurrection. He specifically mentioned the faces due to their honor in humans and that they are the place of their senses, and they are most eager to defend them. Then He mentioned the backs to indicate the generality of the Fire for all their bodies.

His saying, exalted and majestic is He: "Rather, it will come upon them" is a correction implying a negation before it, which can be understood as: the signs do not come according to their request; rather, it will come upon them suddenly. The pronoun refers to the Hour that will lead them to punishment, and it is possible that it refers to the Fire. A group has read: "Rather, it will come upon them" with a 'ya' indicating that the pronoun refers to the promise. "And it will bewilder them" with a 'ya' indicating that the pronoun also refers to the promise. "Suddenly" means unexpectedly without any prior indication, and "they will not be given respite" means they will be delayed.

Then Allah, exalted and majestic is He, comforted Muhammad, blessings and peace be upon him, with what happened to other prophets from the mockery of their people towards them and the arrival of punishment upon the mockers. "What befell" means: descended and settled, and it is used in reference to punishment and calamities. His saying, exalted and majestic is He: "what they used to" has an omitted part, which can be understood as: the recompense for what they used to do, and similar to that. Along with this comfort for Muhammad, blessings and peace be upon him, there is a warning for the disbelievers and a parable for them with what has passed from the nations.