Principle Sixteen: When the apodosis of a conditional sentence is omitted, it serves to magnify the matter and underscore its gravity in passages that convey threat and warning.

Consider His words: “If only you could see when the wicked will be bowing their heads before their Lord…” (As-Sajdah 32:12); “If only you could see when they are seized with panic—there will be no escape” (Sabaʾ 34:51); “If the wrongdoers could but see, when they behold the punishment, that all power belongs entirely to Allah…” (Al-Baqarah 2:165); “If only you could see when they are made to stand before their Lord…” (Al-Anʿam 6:30); and, “If only you could see when they are made to stand before the Fire…” (Al-Anʿam 6:27).

In these verses—and others like them—the response to the conditional clause is purposefully left unstated. Omitting it better conveys the majesty of that moment, for its terror, severity, and horror are too great to be captured in words or fully grasped by description. The same effect appears in His saying: “No indeed! If you were to know with knowledge of certainty…” (At-Takāthur 102:5); that is, had you possessed such sure knowledge, you would not remain as you are, lost in negligence, heedlessness, and idle distraction.