(55–57) “On the Day the Hour comes, the criminals will swear that they remained no more than an hour. Thus were they always turned away from the truth. * But those who were given knowledge and faith will say, ‘You certainly remained, as recorded in Allah’s Book, until the Day of Resurrection. This is the Day of Resurrection, but you did not know.’ * On that Day, the excuse of the wrongdoers will be of no benefit to them, nor will they be allowed to make amends.”

The Most High tells us about the Day of Resurrection and how swiftly it will arrive. When the Hour comes, “the criminals will swear” by Allah that they “remained” in this world for no more than “an hour.” They will say this by way of excuse, hoping that their excuse may benefit them, and because they regard the duration of worldly life as brief.

Since their claim is a lie with no basis in truth, the Most High says, “Thus were they always turned away from the truth.” That is, while they were in this world, they continually turned away from realities and fabricated lies. In this world they denied the truth brought to them by the messengers, and in the hereafter they will deny a plainly experienced fact: that they remained in this world for a long time. Such is their reprehensible character, and a servant will be resurrected in the state in which he died.

“But those who were given knowledge and faith will say”—that is, Allah bestowed both upon them, so knowledge of the truth and faith, which necessarily entails preferring the truth, became defining qualities of theirs. Since they knew the truth and preferred it, their words necessarily accorded with reality and were fitting for their state.

They therefore spoke the truth: “You certainly remained, as recorded in Allah’s Book”—that is, in His decree and predestination, which Allah had prescribed for you, and in accordance with His judgment—“until the Day of Resurrection.” In other words, you were granted a lifespan long enough for anyone willing to take heed to do so, for anyone willing to reflect to reflect, and for anyone willing to learn a lesson to learn it, until the Resurrection came and you reached this state.

“This is the Day of Resurrection, but you did not know.” For that reason, you denied it in this world and denied that you had remained in the world for a period during which you could have turned to Allah in repentance. Ignorance thus remained your emblem, while its consequences—denial and ruin—became your cloak.

“On that Day, the excuse of the wrongdoers will be of no benefit to them.” If they lie and claim that the proof was never established against them or that they had no opportunity to believe, their lie will be exposed by the testimony of the people of knowledge and faith and by the testimony of their own skins, hands, and feet. If they plead to be excused, asking to be sent back and promising not to return to what they had been forbidden, they will not be granted that request. The time for offering excuses will have passed, and their excuse will not be accepted. “Nor will they be allowed to make amends”—that is, the blame and reproach against them will not be removed.