Tafsir of Al-Anbiya' 21:13

(Do not rush, and return...)

That is, it was said to them. The speaker may possibly be the angels of punishment, or whoever was present among the believers, saying it by way of mockery toward them. Ibn Atiyyah said: It is possible, based on the previous narration, that the speaker was from the army of Nebuchadnezzar, intending by this to deceive them and mock them. It is also said that it is possible the meaning is that they are rendered worthy of being told this, even if it was not actually said, in the sense that they reached such a point in their rushing and fleeing from the torment—after their life of luxury and indulgence—that whoever saw them would say, "Do not rush."

(And return to that in which you were granted luxury)

From blessings, enjoyment, and itraf (the insolence born of luxury). The prepositional phrase "in" (fi) is locative, and it is also permissible that it denotes causality.

(And your dwellings)

Which you used to boast about.

(That perhaps you will be questioned)

Meaning, you will be sought out for questioning, consultation, and planning regarding important matters and calamities; or that you will be questioned about what has transpired and what has descended upon your wealth and homes, so that you might answer the questioner from knowledge and direct experience. Or, your servants and slaves will ask you, saying, "What do you command? What do you decree? How shall we act and what shall we abandon?" just as you were [asked] before. Or, that those arriving to seek your bounty will question you—whether because you were spendthrifts, squandering your wealth to show off to people and seek praise, or because you were misers, so it was said to them by way of mockery upon mockery.

It is also said, based on the aforementioned narration, that the meaning of "perhaps you will be questioned" is that you might be asked for a truce, for tribute, or for a matter upon which you might reach an agreement with the king.

It is further said that what is meant by "their dwellings" is the Fire; thus, the meaning of "return to your dwellings" is "enter the Fire," as a form of mockery. The "questioning" in this context would refer to the interrogation regarding one's deeds, or the term is used via majaz mursal (synecdoche), mentioning the cause and intending the effect—that is, "Enter the Fire so that you may be questioned (or tormented) for your injustice and your denial of the signs of Allah the Exalted." This, however, is contrary to the apparent meaning, as is not hidden.