“We certainly brought them a Book which We explained in detail with knowledge, as guidance and mercy for people who believe. * Are they waiting for anything but its fulfillment? On the Day its fulfillment comes, those who had forgotten it before will say, ‘The messengers of our Lord certainly came with the truth. Are there now any intercessors who might intercede for us? Or could we be sent back so that we might act differently from the way we used to act?’ They have indeed lost their souls, and all that they used to fabricate has vanished from them.”

Rather, “We brought them a Book which We explained in detail”; that is, We clarified in it everything that people need, “with knowledge”—based on Allah’s knowledge of His servants’ circumstances in every time and place, and of what benefits them and what does not. Its detailed exposition is not that of someone ignorant of affairs, to whom some circumstances remain unknown and who consequently gives an inappropriate judgment. Rather, it is the detailed exposition of the One whose knowledge encompasses all things and whose mercy embraces all things.

“As guidance and mercy for people who believe.” That is, through this Book the believers receive guidance out of error and a clear distinction between truth and falsehood, and between waywardness and right guidance. Through it they also receive mercy, namely goodness and happiness in this world and the Hereafter. Misguidance and misery are thereby removed from them.

Those upon whom the punishment became due neither believed in this magnificent Book nor submitted to its commands and prohibitions. Nothing therefore remained for them but to deserve the coming upon them of what the Quran had foretold.

Hence He said, “Are they waiting for anything but its fulfillment?”—that is, the occurrence of what it foretold—just as Joseph, peace be upon him, said when his dream came true: “This is the fulfillment of my dream from before.”

“On the Day its fulfillment comes, those who had forgotten it before will say,” full of regret and sorrow over their past conduct, seeking intercession for the forgiveness of their sins, and acknowledging the truth of what the messengers had foretold: “The messengers of our Lord certainly came with the truth. Are there now any intercessors who might intercede for us? Or could we be sent back” to the world “so that we might act differently from the way we used to act?” But the time for returning to the world will already have passed. “Thus, the intercession of intercessors will be of no benefit to them.”

Their request to return to the world so that they might act differently is a lie on their part. Their only purpose in making it is to ward off the punishment that has befallen them. Allah says, “Even if they were sent back, they would certainly return to what they had been forbidden. They are indeed liars.”

“They have indeed lost their souls” by depriving them of all gain and leading them down the path of destruction. This is not like the loss of wealth, possessions, or children; rather, it is a loss for which there can be no restitution. “And all that they used to fabricate has vanished from them”—all the false hopes with which their souls beguiled them in this world and all that Satan promised them. They encountered what they had never reckoned with, and the falsity of their beliefs and the extent of their error became clear to them, as did the truth of what the messengers had brought them.