And His words,

“Let your Lord finish us off,”

mean: let Him cause us to die. This is exactly how the exegetes—such as al-Suddi, Ibn Zayd, and others—have explained it. Al-Suddi said, “He should decree death for us,” while Ibn Zayd said, “The decree here is death.” (1) All the other commentators said the same. (2) It is like His saying,

“A judgment will not be decreed for them so that they die, nor will any part of its punishment be lightened for them.” (3)

Al-Farrāʾ, with regard to His words,

“As for him who is given his record in his left hand…”

—up to His saying (4),

“I wish it had been the decisive end,” (5)

remarked that qaḍāʾ (decree) signifies completion and consummation; a matter that is muqtaḍā (6) is one that has already occurred and run its course. With death a person’s life comes to an end.

Hence He, exalted be He, says:

“Those who are in the Fire will say to the keepers of Hell, ‘Call upon your Lord to lighten for us one day of the punishment.’ They will reply, ‘Did not your messengers come to you with clear proofs?’ They will say, ‘Indeed they did.’ The keepers will say, ‘Then pray on, but the supplication of the disbelievers is only in vain.’” (7)

And He, exalted be He, also says:

“Indeed those who disbelieved and died while they were disbelievers—upon them is the curse of Allah, the angels, and all people. They will abide therein; the punishment will not be eased for them, nor will they be granted respite.” (8)