فقال تعالى : ( لو يعلم الذين كفروا حين لا يكفون ) لا يدفعون ( عن وجوههم النار ولا عن ظهورهم ) قيل : ولا عن ظهورهم السياط ، ( ولا هم ينصرون ) يمنعون من العذاب ، وجواب لو في قوله : ( لو يعلم الذين ) محذوف معناه : ولو علموا لما أقاموا على كفرهم ، ولما استعجلوا ، ولا قالوا : متى هذا الوعد؟ .
If these disbelieving rejecters of the resurrection were to know of the time when they will not be able to turn the hellfire away from their faces and backs, they would not be so hasty in seeking it. If only they were to know that there shall be no one to help relieve them of the punishment, and if only they were convinced of its reality, they would not be so hasty either.