“And if every soul that had wronged possessed all that is on earth, it would offer it as ransom. They will conceal their remorse when they see the punishment; judgment will be passed between them with justice, and they will not be wronged. (54) Truly, to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth. Truly, Allah’s promise is true, but most of them do not know. (55) He gives life and causes death, and to Him you will be returned. (56)”
Concerning His saying, “Then, once it has come to pass, will you believe in it?” it has been said that its meaning is: “Will you believe then, at that time?” Here, “then” is not a conjunction. “Once it has come to pass” means: once the punishment has descended. “Will you believe in it?” means: in Allah, at the time when all hope is lost. It has also been said that it means: Will you believe the punishment to be true when it descends? “Now?” contains an implied statement; that is, it will be said to you: “Will you now believe, after the punishment has come to pass?”—when previously you had sought to hasten it in denial and mockery.
“Then it will be said to those who wronged themselves”—that is, who committed shirk: “Taste the everlasting punishment. Are you recompensed except for what you used to earn?” in the worldly life.
“And they ask you to inform them,” that is, they ask you, Muhammad: “Is it true?”—meaning the punishment and the coming of the Hour which you promise them. “Say, ‘Yes, by my Lord,’” that is, yes, by my Lord. “It is indeed true,” with no doubt concerning it. “And you will not be able to escape,” that is, you will not evade the punishment, for whatever one is unable to overcome has escaped him.
“And if every soul that had wronged”—that is, committed shirk—“possessed all that is on earth, it would offer it as ransom” on the Day of Resurrection. Ransom here means giving that by which one may be saved from punishment. “They will conceal their remorse.” Abu Ubaydah said: Its meaning is that they will manifest their remorse, for that Day is not a day for feigned patience and pretence. It has also been said that its meaning is that they will conceal it: the leaders will conceal their remorse from the weak followers, fearing their blame and reproach. “When they see the punishment; judgment will be passed between them with justice,” that is, their punishment will be carried out to completion, “and they will not be wronged.”