“Indeed, He knows what is spoken aloud, and He knows what you conceal. And I do not know; perhaps it is a trial for you and an enjoyment for a time.” He said, “My Lord, judge in truth. And our Lord is the Most Merciful, whose help is sought against what you describe.” (110–112)

“Indeed, He knows what is spoken aloud, and He knows what you conceal.” “And I do not know; perhaps it is”—that is, perhaps the postponement of punishment from you, an allusion to something not explicitly mentioned—“a trial for you”: a test, “and an enjoyment for a time”: that is, you may enjoy yourselves until your appointed terms expire.

“He said, ‘My Lord, judge in truth.’” Hafs, from Asim, recited: “He said, ‘My Lord, judge,’” while the others recited: “Say, ‘My Lord, judge.’” That is: Decide justly between me and those who deny me. If it is asked, “How could he say, ‘Judge in truth,’ when Allah judges only in truth?” the answer is that al-haqq (truth) here means punishment—as though he had hastened the punishment for his people, and they were punished on the Day of Badr. Similar is His saying, exalted is He: “Our Lord, decide between us and our people in truth” (al-Araf: 89).

The scholars of linguistic meaning said: Its meaning is, “My Lord, judge by Your true judgment”; the word “judgment” has been omitted, and “truth” has taken its place. Allah, exalted is He, judges in truth whether one asks Him or not. The point of making this request is to manifest the petitioner’s desire for His true judgment. “And our Lord is the Most Merciful, whose help is sought against what you describe”: namely, the lies and falsehood you utter.