(55) “Nothing prevented people from believing when guidance came to them, and from seeking their Lord’s forgiveness, except that the established way of dealing with former peoples should overtake them, or that the punishment should confront them face-to-face.”

That is, nothing prevented people from believing even though the guidance that distinguishes right guidance from error, and truth from falsehood, had reached them and Allah’s proof had been established against them. It was not a lack of clarification that prevented them from believing; rather, it was wrongdoing and transgression. Nothing therefore remained except that Allah’s established way and customary dealing with former peoples should overtake them: whenever they refused to believe, they were swiftly visited with punishment—or that they should see the punishment approaching them and behold it directly with their own eyes. They should therefore fear this and repent of their disbelief before the inescapable punishment comes.