Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
If only those who disbelieved knew (the time) when they will not be able to ward off the Fire from their faces, nor from their backs, and they will not be helped.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
لَوْlawIf
يَعْلَمُyaʿlamuknew
ٱلَّذِينَalladhīnathose who
كَفَرُوا۟kafarūdisbelieved
حِينَḥīna(the) time
لَاlā(when) not
يَكُفُّونَyakuffūnathey will avert
عَنʿanfrom
وُجُوهِهِمُwujūhihimutheir faces
ٱلنَّارَl-nārathe Fire
وَلَاwalāand not
عَنʿanfrom
ظُهُورِهِمْẓuhūrihimtheir backs
وَلَاwalāand not
هُمْhumthey
يُنصَرُونَyunṣarūnawill be helped
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
39. 1. Its answer is separate, that is, if they had known, then they would not have hastened for the punishment, or they would certainly have known that the Day of Judgment is coming, or they would not have remained firm on disbelief but would have embraced faith.