(24–26) “Is one who shields his face from the terrible punishment on the Day of Resurrection like one who is safe? And it will be said to the wrongdoers, ‘Taste what you used to earn.’ Those before them rejected the truth, so the punishment came upon them from where they did not perceive. Thus Allah made them taste disgrace in the life of this world; but the punishment of the Hereafter is greater, if only they knew.”

That is: Is the person whom Allah guided and enabled to follow the path leading to the abode in which He honors His servants equal to one who remained astray and persisted in stubborn defiance until he came to the Day of Resurrection? The tremendous punishment then came upon him, and he began shielding himself with his face—the noblest part of the body, which is pained by even the slightest punishment. He uses it to shield himself from the terrible punishment because his hands and feet have been shackled. “And it will be said to the wrongdoers”—those who wronged themselves through disbelief and sins—as a rebuke and reprimand: “Taste what you used to earn.”

“Those before them rejected the truth”—the former nations, just as these people have rejected it—“so the punishment came upon them from where they did not perceive.” It came upon them unawares, early in the day or while they were resting at midday.

“Thus Allah made them taste,” through that punishment, “disgrace in the life of this world.” They were exposed to disgrace before Allah and His creation. “But the punishment of the Hereafter is greater, if only they knew.” Let these people therefore beware of persisting in denial, lest the punishment that befell those former peoples also befall them.