Tafsir of Al-An'am 6:27

"And if you could see when..."

{And if you could see}: Its response is omitted. The implied meaning is: "And if you could see, you would see a terrible thing."

{...they are made to stand before the Fire}: They are shown it until they witness it, or they are brought to look upon it while it is beneath them, or they are made to enter it and thus realize the extent of its torment. This is derived from your saying: "I made him stand (waqaftuhu) upon such-and-such," meaning you made him understand and know it. It is also recited as waqafū (active voice), meaning they stood before it.

{...would that we could be returned, and we would not deny the signs of our Lord and would be among the believers}: They finished their wishing, then began a new statement: "And we would not deny..." promising belief, as if they said: "We will not deny, and we will believe," in the form of an affirmation. Sibawayh compared this to the saying: "Leave me and I will not return," meaning: "Leave me while I am in a state of not returning," whether you leave me or not. It is also possible that it is conjoined to "be returned," or is a circumstantial qualifier (ḥāl) meaning: "Would that we were returned, not denying and being among the believers," thus falling under the scope of the wish.

If you ask: Does the statement {and indeed, they are liars} refute this, since one who is wishing cannot be a liar? I say: This is a wish that contains the meaning of a promise, so it is permissible for lying to be attributed to it. Just as a man says: "Would that God grant me wealth, so I may do good to you and reward you for your kindness." This is a wish in the sense of a promise. If he were granted wealth and did not do good or reward his companion, he would be a liar, as if he had said: "If God grants me wealth, I will reward you for your kindness." It is also recited as wa-lā nukadhdhiba wa-nakūna (in the accusative case) by implying an (to) as a response to the wish. Its meaning is: "If we were returned, we would not deny and we would be among the believers."

{But what they concealed before has appeared to them}: Their ugly deeds and scandals, in their records and by the testimony of their own limbs against them. That is why they wished what they wished out of distress, not because they were truly resolved that if they were returned, they would believe. It is said: This refers to the hypocrites, and that their hypocrisy, which they used to hide, is revealed. It is also said: This refers to the People of the Scripture, and that what they used to conceal—the truth of the Prophethood of the Messenger of God (peace be upon him)—is revealed to them.

{And if they were returned} to the world after standing before the Fire, {they would return to that which they were forbidden} of disbelief and disobedience. {And indeed, they are liars} in what they promised of themselves; they would not fulfill it.

{And they said, "There is not but our worldly life, and we will not be resurrected."}