By the signs of Allah, His evidence of His oneness, His books, His miracles, His meeting, and the resurrection, they despair of My mercy, a warning. This means they despair on the Day of Judgment, as His saying goes: 'And on the Day the Hour rises, the criminals will be in despair.' Or it is a description of their state, for the believer is only one who is hopeful and fearful. As for the disbeliever, hope and fear do not even cross his mind.

Or their state in the absence of mercy from them is likened to that of one who has despaired of mercy. And from Qatadah, may Allah be pleased with him, indeed Allah condemned a people who belittled Him, saying: 'Those are the ones who despair of My mercy.' And He said: 'Indeed, no one despairs of the mercy of Allah except the disbelieving people.' Therefore, it is appropriate for the believer not to despair of the mercy of Allah nor of His relief, and not to feel secure from His punishment and retribution. The characteristic of the believer is that he should be hopeful for Allah, the Exalted, and fearful.