(50–53) “The inhabitants of the Fire will call out to the inhabitants of Paradise, ‘Pour down upon us some water, or some of what Allah has provided you.’ They will reply, ‘Allah has forbidden both to the disbelievers—those who took their religion as amusement and play and were deluded by the life of this world. So today We shall forsake them, just as they forgot the meeting of this Day of theirs and because they used to reject Our signs.’”

That is, the inhabitants of the Fire will call out to the inhabitants of Paradise when the punishment has reached its utmost severity upon them and they are afflicted by extreme hunger and agonizing thirst. Pleading for relief, they will say, “Pour down upon us some water, or some of what Allah has provided you” of food. The inhabitants of Paradise will answer them, saying, “Allah has forbidden both”—the water and food of Paradise—“to the disbelievers.” This is their recompense for disbelieving in Allah’s signs and for taking as “amusement and play” the religion which they were commanded to follow steadfastly and for which they were promised a magnificent reward.

That is, their hearts were distracted from it and turned away; they trifled with it and made it an object of ridicule. Alternatively, they substituted amusement and play for their religion, choosing them in place of the upright ⦗291⦘ religion.

“They were deluded by the life of this world” with its adornments, splendor, and numerous enticements. They became content with it, accepted it, and rejoiced in it, while turning away from the Hereafter and forgetting it.

“So today We shall forsake them”—that is, We shall leave them in the punishment—“just as they forgot the meeting of this Day of theirs,” as though they had been created solely for this world and faced neither presentation before Allah nor recompense.

“And because they used to reject Our signs,” although their denial was not due to any deficiency in Allah’s signs and clear proofs.