“On that Day, all sovereignty belongs to Allah. He will judge between them. So those who believe and do righteous deeds will be in Gardens of Bliss. But those who disbelieve and deny Our signs—for them will be a humiliating punishment. And those who emigrated for the sake of Allah, then were killed or died—Allah will surely grant them a good provision. Indeed, Allah is surely the Best of providers.” (56–58)

“But those who disbelieve will not cease to be in doubt about it”: that is, in doubt about what Satan cast upon the tongue of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him. They say, “Why did he speak well of it, then recant?” Ibn Jurayj said: “About it” means, about the Quran. It was also said: about the religion, which is the straight path. “Until the Hour comes upon them suddenly,” meaning the Resurrection. It was also said to mean death. “Or there comes upon them the punishment of a barren day.” Al-Dahhak and Ikrimah said: it is the punishment of a day with no night, namely, the Day of Resurrection.

The majority hold that the barren day is the Day of Badr, because the Hour had already been mentioned before it, and that is the Day of Resurrection. The Day of Badr was called barren because there was no good in it for the disbelievers, like a barren wind that brings no good—neither clouds nor rain. [In the language, barrenness means being prevented; a man is called barren when he is prevented from having children.] (1) It was also said: because there was no day like it in the magnitude of its affair, due to the angels’ fighting in it. Ibn Jurayj said: because they were not granted respite in it until nightfall; rather, they were killed before evening.

“On that Day, all sovereignty belongs to Allah,” meaning the Day of Resurrection; “to Allah” alone, with none to contend with Him. “He will judge between them.” Then He clarified the judgment, saying: “So those who believe and do righteous deeds will be in Gardens of Bliss. But those who disbelieve and deny Our signs—for them will be a humiliating punishment.”

“And those who emigrated for the sake of Allah”: they left their homelands and their clans in obedience to Allah and in seeking His pleasure. “Then were killed or died” while in that state. Ibn Amir recited “were killed” with intensified pronunciation. “Allah will surely grant them a good provision.” The good provision that never ceases is the provision of Paradise. “Indeed, Allah is surely the Best of providers.” It was said that this is His saying: “Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision.” (Al Imran: 169)