( لَئِنْ… ) (if): The first letter “Lam” in the Arabic word indicates that there is a dropped affirming oath meaning “By Allah, if”. When an oath and a conditional clause are combined in a single expression, then one response will eloquently suffice for both. And whichever precedes the other, its response satisfies the response of the other.

( وَلَئِنْ أَخَّرْنَا عَنْهُمُ الْعَذَابَ… ) (And if We hold back from them the punishment): The task of the previous Messengers who preceded the Prophet Muhammad (saws) was to convey the message, and then Allah (swt) took over the job of punishing the disbelievers. However, Allah (swt) has favoured the nation of the Prophet Muhammad (saws) over all other nations, and willed not to punish them by eradication, leaving a room for forgiveness. Allah (swt) wanted to grant them respite and give the oppressors time for reflection. But the oppressors increased in wrongdoing and deviated from the truth. Here, Allah (swt) shows His Messenger that He conceals the punishment for them with respite, but they took it as a mockery and ridicule, and they asked, “Where is the punishment?” The Quran mentions their words:

  وَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا عَجِّل لَّنَا قِطَّنَا قَبْلَ يَوْمِ الْحِسَابِ 

(And they say, “Our Lord, hasten for us our share [of the punishment] before the Day of Account”) (Saad:16)

The Arabic term “share” refers to the consequences of their actions, derived from the Arabic word “cutting off.”

( … إُمَّةٍ… ) (time.): The Arabic word refers to a sect or group of members of the species, such as: a group of humans, a group of jinn, a group of ants… and other creatures of Allah (swt). So, this word may refer to a group that is united by a singular law and system. This Arabic word may also refer to a period of time, such as in this verse of study.

( … معدودة… ) (limited): This word signifies scarcity, as in His (swt) saying:

 وَشَرَوْهُ بِثَمَنٍ بَخْسٍ دَرَاهِمَ مَعْدُودَةٍ وَكَانُوا فِيهِ مِنَ الزَّاهِدِينَ 

(And they sold him for a reduced price – a few dirhams – and they were, concerning him, of those content with little.) (Yusuf:20)

That is, they can be counted.

( … لَّيَقُولُنَّ مَا يَحْبِسُهُ… ) (they will surely say, “What detains it?”): It is as if they mockingly and sarcastically asking this question.

( … أَلَا يَوْمَ يَأْتِيهِمْ لَيْسَ مَصْرُوفًا عَنْهُمْ… ) (Unquestionably, on the Day it comes to them, it will not be averted from them): The response to them comes with the warning tool (Unquestionably), meaning pay close attention to this response. For humans always rush, but Allah does not rush. Every matter has its own time, and they will receive what they were rushing for. The confirmation of their punishment is evident through various things. The first is the warning tool (Unquestionably), then His (swt) saying “ on the Day it comes to them.” This affirms that the punishment is inevitably coming to them. Also, this punishment is not exempt, meaning it is a continuous punishment.

( … وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُوا بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِئُونَ… ) (and they will be enveloped by what they used to ridicule): The Arabic verb (haq) in this expression is in the past tense, thus, how can the disbelievers hasten a matter when the expression of it is in the past tense? Because the speaker is Allah (swt), and the speech is based on the law of the speaker. Every action is attributed to the Power of its Doer. So when Allah speaks and uses a past tense verb, it is as if He is saying: “The matter will happen without a doubt.” And Allah is beyond time, so His saying “ and they will be enveloped ” means that the matter has indeed been determined and concluded, because nothing will prevent its occurrence.