Tafseer of The Bee · An-Nahl · 16:84
And [mention] the Day when We will resurrect from every nation a witness. Then it will not be permitted to the disbelievers [to apologize or make excuses], nor will they be asked to appease [Allah].
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
Explanation of the word of Allah, Exalted is His remembrance: وَيَوْمَ نَبْعَثُ مِنْ كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ شَهِيدًا ثُمَّ لا يُؤْذَنُ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَلا هُمْ يُسْتَعْتَبُونَ (84)
Allah, Exalted is His remembrance, says: They recognize the favor of Allah but deny it today and regard it as unreal on يَوْمَ نَبْعَثُ مِنْ كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ شَهِيدًا — and that is the witness against them concerning how they responded to the call of Allah. And that is their messenger who had been sent to them. ثُمَّ لا يُؤْذَنُ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا — He says: Then the unbelievers are not given permission to excuse themselves, so that they might excuse themselves for the unbelief (kufr) in Allah and His messenger that they committed. وَلا هُمْ يُسْتَعْتَبُونَ — so that they would be sent back to the worldly life to show remorse and repent. And this is like that which He, Exalted, said: هَذَا يَوْمُ لا يَنْطِقُونَ * وَلا يُؤْذَنُ لَهُمْ فَيَعْتَذِرُونَ .
And this is in agreement with what we have said about this, according to the people of interpretation.
Those who said this:
Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His word وَيَوْمَ نَبْعَثُ مِنْ كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ شَهِيدًا : and its witness is its Prophet, who testifies that he conveyed the messages of his Lord. Allah, Exalted is His remembrance, said: وَجِئْنَا بِكَ شَهِيدًا عَلَى هَؤُلاءِ .
