“Even if every soul that had done wrong possessed all that is on earth, it would offer it as ransom. They will be filled with remorse when they see the punishment. Judgment will be passed between them with justice, and they will not be wronged. Surely, to Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and on earth. Surely, Allah’s promise is true, but most of them do not know. He gives life and causes death, and to Him you will be returned.”

“And”—when the Resurrection comes—“if every soul that had done wrong” through disbelief and acts of disobedience possessed “all that is on earth,” including gold, silver, and anything else, to ransom itself from Allah’s punishment, “it would offer it as ransom,” yet that would not benefit it. Benefit and harm, reward and punishment, depend only upon righteous and evil deeds.

“And they were filled with”—[that is,] those who had done wrong—“remorse when they saw the punishment.” They regretted what they had sent ahead, but the time for escape had passed. “Judgment will be passed between them with justice”—that is, with perfect justice, containing no injustice or inequity whatsoever.

“Surely, to Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and on earth.” He governs them by His religious law and universal decree, and He will judge them with His judgment of recompense. Thus He says: “Surely, Allah’s promise is true, but most of them do not know.” Consequently, they do not prepare to meet Allah and may not even believe in it, though decisive evidence and both scriptural and rational proofs have abundantly established its truth.

“He gives life and causes death”—that is, He alone controls the giving of life, the causing of death, and every other form of governance (1). He has no partner in any of this.

“And to Him you will be returned” on the Day of Resurrection, when He will recompense you for your deeds, both good and evil.