Tafsir of Al-Hadeed 57:13

{On the day the hypocrites say...} This is a substitution (badal) for "the day you see."

{Wait for us (unẓurūnā)} Meaning: "Wait for us," because the believers are being hastened toward Paradise like flashing lightning, carried by mounts that speed them along, while these [hypocrites] are on foot.

{And look at us (wa-unẓurū ilaynā)} Meaning: "Turn your faces toward us." When they look at them, they face them, and the light is before them, so they seek illumination from it.

It is also recited as anẓirūnā (from naẓrah, meaning "respite"). This interprets their slow pace in moving forward—until they catch up—as a request for a delay.

{We may acquire some of your light} The accusative case (naqtabis) follows from the light. This is because they intend to catch up to them and be illuminated by it.

{It is said, "Go back behind you and seek light"} This is a dismissal and a mockery of them. It means: "Return to the gathering place, to where we were given this light, and seek it there; from there it is acquired." Or: "Return to the world and seek light by obtaining its cause, which is faith." Or: "Return disappointed and move away from us, and seek another light, for you have no path to this light." They already know there is no light behind them; this is merely to disappoint and despair them.

{So a wall will be set up between them} Between the believers and the hypocrites, a barrier wall between the side of Paradise and the side of Hell. It is said that this wall is the A‘rāf (the Heights).

{Having a gate} For the people of Paradise to enter through.

{Its interior} The interior of the wall or the gate, which is the side facing Paradise.

{And its exterior} That which faces the people of Hell.

{From its direction} From its side and its quarter.

{Is the punishment} Which is the darkness and the fire. Zayd ibn ‘Alī (may Allah be pleased with them both) recited it as fa-ḍaraba (active voice: "He set up").

{Were we not with you?} They mean their outward conformity.

{But you tempted yourselves} You tested yourselves with hypocrisy and destroyed yourselves.

{And you waited} For calamities to befall the believers.

{And you were deluded by false hopes} By long-term expectations and the greed for extended lifespans.

{Until the command of Allah came} Which is death.

{And the Deceiver deluded you concerning Allah} Satan deluded you, claiming that Allah is Pardoning and Generous and will not punish you. It is also recited as al-ghurūr (with a ḍamma).

{A ransom} That with which one ransoms oneself.

{It is your master (mawlākum)} It is said: It is more appropriate for you (awlā bikum). Labīd said: "It became such that in both directions it thought / That the place of fear was behind it and before it." The reality of mawlākum is your place (maḥallukum) and your station (maqmanukum). That is, the place where it is said, "It is more appropriate for you," just as it is said, "He is a mi’nah (a place/source) of generosity," meaning a place for the speaker to say, "He is generous." It is also possible that it means: "It is your helper," meaning you have no helper other than it. The intent is the absolute negation of a helper. Similar to this is their saying: "So-and-so was afflicted by such-and-such, so he sought help from panic." From this is the Almighty’s saying: {They will be given water like molten copper}. It is also said: It will take charge of you (tatawallākum), just as you took charge of the deeds of the people of Hell in the world.

{Has the time not come for those who have believed that their hearts should become humble at the remembrance of Allah and what has come down of the truth? And let them not be like those who were given the Scripture before, and a long period passed over them, so their hearts hardened; and many of them are defiantly disobedient.}