“So do not be impressed by their wealth or their children. Allah only intends to punish them through these in the life of this world, and for their souls to depart while they are disbelievers. (55) They swear by Allah that they are of you, but they are not of you; rather, they are a people who are afraid. (56) If they could find a refuge, or caves, or any place to enter, they would turn toward it and flee headlong. (57)”
“So do not be impressed by their wealth or their children”: admiration is delight in that which one finds remarkable. That is, do not regard as good the wealth and children We have bestowed upon them. For when Allah grants a servant respite only to draw him gradually toward ruin, He increases his wealth and children.
“Allah only intends to punish them through these in the life of this world.” If it is asked: What punishment is there in wealth and children when they enjoy them in this worldly life?
It is said: Mujahid and Qatada said that the verse involves an inversion in word order. Its intended meaning is: Do not be impressed by their wealth or their children in the life of this world; Allah only intends to punish them through these in the Hereafter.
It was also said that the punishment refers to the calamities that befall wealth and children.
Al-Hasan said: He punishes them through these in this world by taking zakah from them and requiring expenditure in the cause of Allah. It was also said: He punishes them through the toil of amassing it, the anxiety of safeguarding it, the reluctance to spend it, and the remorse of leaving it behind for one who will not praise him for it; then he comes before a King who will not excuse him.
“And for their souls to depart”: that is, to leave. “While they are disbelievers”: that is, they die in a state of disbelief.
“They swear by Allah that they are of you”: that is, they follow your religion. “But they are not of you; rather, they are a people who are afraid”: they fear disclosing what they truly are. (1)
“If they could find a refuge”: a place of protection, a fortress, or a stronghold. Ata said: a means of escape. It was also said: a people among whom they would feel secure. “Or caves”: caves in the mountains, the plural of a word denoting a place in which one disappears—that is, conceals oneself. Ata said: subterranean tunnels. “Or any place to enter”: a place one can enter. Its original form was mudtakhal, following the muftaʿal pattern, derived from adkhala, yudkhilu (“to cause to enter”). Mujahid said: a protected hiding place. Qatada said: an underground passage. Al-Kalbi said: a tunnel in the ground like the burrow of a jerboa. Al-Hasan said: a means of access through which they could act contrary to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. Another recitation has madkhalan, with the mim carrying fatḥah and the dal ungeminated; this was likewise recited.