Tafseer of The Prostration · As-Sajda · 32:29
Say, [O Muhammad], "On the Day of Conquest the belief of those who had disbelieved will not benefit them, nor will they be reprieved."
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.
That which demonstrates that this is the intended meaning is His words (Say: On the Day of Decision their faith shall not benefit those who disbelieved, nor shall they be granted respite). There is no doubt that Allah has established for the disbelievers the possibility of repentance, both before the conquest of Mecca and after it. And if the meaning of His words (When is this decision coming?) were as the one said who claimed that thereby the conquest of Mecca is intended, then there would be no repentance possible for whoever among the polytheists (mushrikīn) converted after the conquest of Mecca. Yet there is no doubt that Allah accepted the repentance of very many people among the polytheists after the conquest of Mecca, and that He caused to benefit them their faith in Him and in His Messenger. By this is known the correctness of what we have given as explanation, and the untenability of what is in conflict with it. And His words (if you are truthful): that means: if you are truthful in what you say, namely that we shall be punished because we held Muḥammad ﷺ to be a liar and because we worshipped the gods and the idols.
And His words (Say: On the Day of Decision): He says to His prophet Muḥammad ﷺ: Say, O Muḥammad, to them on the Day of Judgment and the coming of the punishment: The faith that they produce within themselves at that moment shall not benefit those who disbelieved in Allah and in His signs.
As: Yūnus told me, he said: Ibn Wahb informed us, he said: Ibn Zayd said concerning His words (Say: On the Day of Decision their faith shall not benefit those who disbelieved), he said: The Day of Decision is when the punishment comes.
Muḥammad ibn ʿAmr told me, he said: Abū ʿĀṣim told us, he said: ʿĪsā told us; and al-Ḥārith told me, he said: al-Ḥasan told us, he said: Warqāʾ told us — both on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid: (On the Day of Decision) is the Day of Resurrection. And the word "Day" (al-yawm) stands in His words (Say: On the Day of Decision) in the accusative as the answer to "when" (matā), since "matā" stands in the position of the accusative. The meaning of the statement is: When is the time of this decision, if you are truthful? Then it was said: on such-and-such a Day. And thus the Qurʾān reciters have recited it.
And His words (nor shall they be granted respite): He says: nor shall they be granted respite for repentance and return.
