—namely, their knowledge that they were following falsehood and that the messengers were following the truth. They now saw this with their own eyes, after having concealed and hidden it. Were they sent back, their souls would not yield to faith, and they would return to disbelief and denial. They did not wish to believe because they had learned that day that faith was the truth and polytheism was falsehood. Rather, they wished for it because they had witnessed punishment they could not bear.
This is like someone who conceals his love for another person and his association with him, knowing that this love is wrong and that the right course is to turn away from it. He is told, “If his guardian discovers what you are doing, he will punish you.” Although he knows this, he stubbornly insists, “Rather, loving him and associating with him is the right thing to do.” Then, when his guardian seizes him to punish him and he becomes certain of the punishment, he wishes to be spared and resolves never to meet that person again. Yet his heart still holds such love for him and such eagerness to associate with him that he would return to it even after witnessing the punishment—indeed, even after the punishment had afflicted and exhausted him. Thus, when punishment comes, what becomes apparent to him is the knowledge he had concealed: that he was wrong and that the prohibition addressed to him was right. Were he sent back, he would return to what he had been forbidden.
Consider how precisely the corrective “Rather” fits this meaning. It rejects their claim: “If we were sent back, we would believe and affirm the truth, because it has now become clear to us that what the messengers said is true.” That is, this is not so. Rather, you already knew and recognized this, but concealed it. No new knowledge has become apparent to you that might afford you an excuse. Rather, what has become apparent to you was already known to you, and you used to urge one another to conceal and hide it. And Allah knows best.
As for the turning of hearts:
[Surah al-An‘ām (6): verses 108–110]
“Do not insult those they invoke besides Allah, lest they insult Allah in hostility, without knowledge. Thus We have made every community’s deeds seem appealing to them. Then to their Lord they will return, and He will inform them of what they used to do. (108) They swear by Allah their strongest oaths that if a sign came to them, they would surely believe in it. Say, ‘Signs are only with Allah.’ And what will make you realize that even if a sign came, they would not believe? (109) We turn their hearts and eyes away, just as they did not believe in it the first time, and leave them wandering blindly in their transgression. (110)”
This is conjoined to His statement, “Even if a sign came, they would not believe.” That is, We would come between them and faith, even if that sign came to them, so they would not believe.
There is disagreement over His statement, “Just as they did not believe in it the first time.” Many commentators said that it means: We would come between them and faith if the sign came to them, just as We came between them and faith the first time. Ibn ‘Abbās said, according to ‘Atā’s narration from him: “And We turn