Surah Al-Hijr (15) — Ayah 2

(Ayah2) ➊ {رُبَمَا:’’رُبَّ ‘‘ } is a preposition, {’’مَا‘‘} means "time." The word {’’رُبَّ ‘‘} is used for diminution, meaning "at some time," as in: {’’رُبَّ أَخٍ لَمْ تَلِدْهُ اُمُّكَ‘‘} "There are many brothers whom your mother did not give birth to," and also for abundance, for example: {’’رُبَّمَا يَنْجُو الذَّكِيُّ‘‘} "Many times an intelligent person succeeds." The difference is determined by the context, for example, if the same example is like this: { ’’ رُبَّمَا يَنْجُ الْكَسُوْلُ ‘‘} then the meaning will be "Sometimes even a lazy person succeeds." In this verse, some scholars have considered this word for diminution, meaning "at some time," and some for abundance, meaning "many times." According to the author of Mughnī al-Labīb, the latter meaning is more correct here, because after death, every moment of the disbelievers will pass in this regret. {’’ لَوْ ‘‘} is for wishing. The desire for something impossible is called "tamannī," the desire for something possible is called "tarajjī."
➋ { يَوَدُّ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا:} This surah is Makki. When the Muslims were weak and subdued in every way, Allah Almighty comforted the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the Muslims that the time is coming when these disbelievers will wish that if only they were Muslims, but the desire for something after the time has passed is of no benefit. The time referred to also includes those occasions in this world when Muslims will gain victory and success and the disbelievers will face defeat and disgrace, such as Badr, Khaybar, and the conquest of Makkah, etc., and the disbelievers will wish that if only they were Muslims at that time, they too would have gained this honor and spoils, and they will also express this wish at the time of death, as He said: «{ حَتّٰۤى اِذَا جَآءَ اَحَدَهُمُ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ رَبِّ ارْجِعُوْنِ (99) لَعَلِّيْۤ اَعْمَلُ صَالِحًا فِيْمَا تَرَكْتُ كَلَّا اِنَّهَا كَلِمَةٌ هُوَ قَآىِٕلُهَا }» [ المؤمنون : ۹۹، ۱۰۰ ] "Until, when death comes to one of them, he says, 'My Lord, send me back, so that I may do righteous deeds in that which I left behind.' Never! It is only a word he is saying." Then, in the hardships after death, especially when they are about to be entered into the Fire, He said: «{ وَ لَوْ تَرٰۤى اِذْ وُقِفُوْا عَلَى النَّارِ فَقَالُوْا يٰلَيْتَنَا نُرَدُّ وَ لَا نُكَذِّبَ بِاٰيٰتِ رَبِّنَا وَ نَكُوْنَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ }» [الأنعام : ۲۷ ] "And if only you could see when they are made to stand before the Fire, they will say, 'Oh, would that we were sent back and not deny the signs of our Lord and be among the believers.'" And they will wish this with the greatest regret when all those among the Muslims who entered Hell are taken out of Hell. Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "When the people of the Fire are gathered in the Fire, and with them are also those among the people of the Qiblah whom Allah wills, the disbelievers will say to the Muslims: 'Were you not Muslims?' They will say: 'Why not?' The disbelievers will say: 'Then what benefit did your Islam give you, since you also reached the Fire with us?' They will say: 'We had some sins because of which we were seized.' Allah will hear what they said, and He will command regarding those among the people of the Qiblah, and they will be taken out. When the people of Hell see this, they will say: 'If only we were Muslims, so we would also be taken out as they were taken out.'" (Abu Musa [may Allah be pleased with him] said) Then the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) recited this verse: «{ الٓرٰ تِلْكَ اٰيٰتُ الْكِتٰبِ وَ قُرْاٰنٍ مُّبِيْنٍ (1) رُبَمَا يَوَدُّ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا لَوْ كَانُوْا مُسْلِمِيْنَ }» [ السنۃ لابن أبي عاصم، باب ذکر من یخرج اللہ بتفضلہ من النار : ۸۴۳۔ مستدرک حاکم : ۲ / ۲۴۲، ح : ۲۹۵۴ ] Shaykh al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) declared it Sahih in "Zilal al-Sunnah" and has narrated several hadiths of this meaning.
➌ {’’ مُسْلِمِيْنَ ‘‘} is indefinite, so it has been translated as "if only they were any kind of Muslims," meaning even if they were sinful, eventually they would be taken out of Hell.

2. 1. When will they make this wish? At the time of death, when the angels show them the fire of Hell, or when they enter Hell, or at the time when sinful believers, after being kept in Hell for some time as punishment, are taken out of Hell, or in the field of resurrection, where the reckoning is taking place and the disbelievers see that the Muslims are going to Paradise, then they will wish that they too were Muslims. رُبَمَا is originally for abundance, but sometimes it is also used for scarcity. Some say that this wish will continue to be made by them at every occasion, but it will not benefit them in any way.

2. A time [2] will come when the disbelievers will wish that they had been Muslims.

[2]
At Which Times Will the Disbelievers Wish They Had Been Muslims?
"Rubama" is used for both abundance and scarcity, meaning it can signify "often" or "sometimes." This word is especially used in situations where it is expected that someone would remember frequently or all the time, but they do not, so it is said, "At least sometimes you will remember us." It can refer to any time when a disbeliever feels regret and remorse over his past life and deeds, and sees Muslims being honored and granted success and well-being in comparison. For example, at the Battle of Badr, the disbelievers were severely defeated and the Muslims were granted honor and victory, and such occasions can be numerous—both in this world and the Hereafter, even at the time of death. When the angels come in terrifying forms to take the soul of the disbeliever, and the final occasion for such a wish will be when, on the Day of Resurrection, the disbelievers see some sinful Muslims with them in Hell and say, "You are with us in Hell, so what benefit did your faith and monotheism give you?" At this, Allah will not allow any monotheist to remain in Hell. Upon saying this, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited this very verse, indicating that this will be the last occasion when the disbelievers will wish to have been Muslims.