Overview (Verses 51 - 54)

The Final Scene
 
The sūrah concludes with a fast and powerful scene from the Day of Judgement, full of strong movement that goes to and fro between this life and the life to come, as if both are within the same domain: If you could but see when they are seized by terror, with nowhere to escape; for they will have been seized from a place nearby. They will say: ‘We do believe in it,’ but how could they attain it from so far away, seeing that they had at first denied it all. They used to cast scorn from far away on what is imperceptible. A barrier will be set between them and all that they desire, just as was done with their kind before. They were lost in perplexing doubt. (Verses 51-54) “If you could but see.” The scene is there to look at. “When they are seized by terror” because of the terrible situation they find themselves in. It appears they may try to find a way out, but there is “nowhere to escape.” They have nowhere to turn: “they will have been seized from a place nearby.” They could not go far with their miserable attempt.
 
“They will say: We do believe in it,” but it is now too late. For, “how could they attain it from so far away?” How can they regain it in their new position when the place to believe is now so far away? It was available to them in their life in this world, but they let the chance go unheeded.
 
“They had at first denied it all.” The matter is over and they cannot try again. “They used to cast scorn from far away on what is imperceptible.” They did this when the Day of Judgement was beyond their perception. They denied it without a shred of evidence to support their denial. They did so from afar but are now trying to attain faith from a distant place.
 
“A barrier will be set between them and all that they desire.” This is a reference to the faith they wish to have now when it is too late. It cannot spare them the punishment or save them from the danger they see looming. They are in the same position as earlier communities: “just as was done with their kind before.” Those earlier communities also tried to escape God’s punishment when no escape was possible. “They were lost in perplexing doubt.” Now they see it for certain after they had been in doubt of it ever happening.
 
The sūrah concludes on this fast, powerful note, with a scene from the Day of Judgement confirming the main issue. This issue is stated at the outset and re-stated here at the end.