This is a rebuke from Allah to the people of Hell for the disbelief, sins,
unlawful deeds and evil actions that they committed, because of which they were
doomed. Allah says:
[أَلَمْ تَكُنْ
ءَايَـتِى تُتْلَى عَلَيْكُمْ فَكُنْتُمْ بِهَا تُكَذِّبُونَ ]
("Were not My Ayat recited to you, and then you used to deny them'') meaning,
`I sent Messengers to you, and revealed Books, and cleared the confusion for
you, so you have no excuse.' This is like the Ayat:
[لِئَلاَّ يَكُونَ
لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى اللَّهِ حُجَّةٌ بَعْدَ الرُّسُلِ]
(in order that mankind should have no plea against Allah after the
Messengers) [4:165]
[وَمَا كُنَّا
مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّى نَبْعَثَ رَسُولاً]
(And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger) [17:15].
[كُلَّمَا أُلْقِىَ
فِيهَا فَوْجٌ سَأَلَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَآ أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ نَذِيرٌ]
(Every time a group is cast therein, its keeper will ask: "Did no warner come
to you'') Until His saying;
[فَسُحْقًا
لاًّصْحَـبِ السَّعِيرِ]
(So, away with the dwellers of the blazing Fire!) They will say:
[رَبَّنَا غَلَبَتْ
عَلَيْنَا شِقْوَتُنَا وَكُنَّا قَوْماً ضَآلِّينَ]
(Our Lord! Our wretchedness overcame us, and we were (an) erring people.)
meaning, evidence has been established against us, but we were so doomed that we
could not follow it, so we went astray and were not guided. Then they will say:
[رَبَّنَآ
أَخْرِجْنَا مِنْهَا فَإِنْ عُدْنَا فَإِنَّا ظَـلِمُونَ ]
(Our Lord! Bring us out of this. If ever we return (to evil), then indeed we
shall be wrongdoers.) meaning, send us back to the world, and if we go back to
what we used to do before, then we will indeed be wrongdoers who deserve
punishment. This is like the Ayat:
[فَاعْتَرَفْنَا
بِذُنُوبِنَا فَهَلْ إِلَى خُرُوجٍ مِّن سَبِيلٍ]
(Now we confess our sins, then is there any way to get out) Until His
statement:
[فَالْحُكْمُ للَّهِ
الْعَلِـىِّ الْكَبِيرِ]
(So the judgment is only with Allah, the Most High, the Most Great!'')
[40:11-12] meaning, there will be no way out, because you used to associate
partners in worship with Allah whereas the believers worshipped Him Alone.
[قَالَ اخْسَئُواْ
فِيهَا وَلاَ تُكَلِّمُونِ - إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْ عِبَادِى يَقُولُونَ
رَبَّنَآ ءَامَنَّا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الرَحِمِينَ -
فَاتَّخَذْتُمُوهُمْ سِخْرِيّاً حَتَّى أَنسَوْكُمْ ذِكْرِى وَكُنْتُمْ مِّنْهُمْ
تَضْحَكُونَ - إِنِّى جَزَيْتُهُمُ الْيَوْمَ بِمَا صَبَرُواْ أَنَّهُمْ هُمُ
الْفَآئِزُونَ ]
(108. He (Allah) will say: "Remain you in it with ignominy! And speak you not
to Me!'') (109. Verily, there was a party of My servants who used to say: "Our
Lord! We believe, so forgive us and have mercy on us, for You are the Best of
all who show mercy!'') (110. But you took them for a laughing stock, so much so
that they made you forget My remembrance while you used to laugh at them!) (111.
Verily, I have rewarded them this Day for their patience; they are indeed the
ones that are successful.)