Tafsir of An-Nahl 16:84

(And the Day We will resurrect from every nation a witness): A group of people. (a witness): Who will testify for them regarding faith and obedience, and against them regarding disbelief and disobedience. The intended meaning, as narrated by Ibn al-Mundhir and others from Qatadah, is the prophet of that nation. (then permission will not be granted to those who disbelieved): That is, to offer excuses, as the Almighty said: "This is a Day they will not speak, nor will it be permitted for them, so they should make an excuse." The manifest meaning is that they will seek permission for that, but will not be granted it. It is also possible that there will be neither a request from them nor permission given, as they have no argument to present and no excuse with which to apologize. Abu Muslim said: The meaning is that their speech will not be listened to after the testimony of the witnesses, nor will it be attended to, as in the saying of Adi bin Zayd: "In listening, the elder grants him audience, and a speech like that which is heard." It has also been said: It means they will not be permitted to return to the abode of this world, and the first [interpretation] is narrated from Ibn Abbas and Abu al-Aliyah. The [particle] thumma (then) is for indicating that their trial by being denied permission—which signals absolute despair, such as when it is said to them: "Remain despised therein and do not speak to Me"—is more severe than their trial by the testimony of the prophets, peace be upon them. Thus, it [the thumma] is for rank-based sequence.

(Nor will they be asked to seek satisfaction): Meaning, they will not be asked to remove the dissatisfaction of their Lord—that is, His anger—through repentance and righteous deeds, for the Hereafter is a home of recompense, not a home of action, and returning to the world is something that will not happen. Al-Zamakhshari’s statement: "Meaning, it will not be said to them: 'Satisfy your Lord,'" is an interpretation through the implication. It has also been said: The meaning is that satisfaction will not be sought from them personally by being gentle with them. [This is derived] from ista'tabahu meaning a'tabahu, when he gives him the utba, which is satisfaction. Regardless, the intention is the continuity of the negation, not the negation of continuity.

The accusative case of the adverbial phrase, according to what al-Hufi and others stated, is governed by an omitted verb, estimated as "remember." Some estimated it as "fear them," in which case it is a direct object. It has also been said that it is in the accusative as an adverb governed by an omitted verb, meaning: "On the day We resurrect, what will befall them will befall them." Al-Tabari said: It is conjoined to an implicit adverb whose governing verb is "they deny it" (yunkirunaha), meaning: "Then they deny it this day, and [on] the Day We resurrect from every nation a witness, so he will testify against them and declare them liars." However, this is not a strong position. These possibilities also apply to His saying, the Almighty: [rest of the text truncated].