16-84 And on the day when We raise up a witness out of every nation, then permission (to offer excuse) will not be given to the disbelievers, nor will they be allowed to make amends.a
وَيَوْمَ نَبْعَثُ مِن كُلِّ أُمَّةٍۢ شَهِيدًۭا ثُمَّ لَا يُؤْذَنُ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَلَا هُمْ يُسْتَعْتَبُونَ (۸۴)
16-84a: يُسْتَعْتَبُونَ – عَتَبة is the threshold, doorstep, doorsill which is trampled under the feet (LA). عَتۡب is the anger or dissatisfaction that one feels in the heart against another and the meaning of اعتاب is to show dissatisfaction, and also to do away with the dissatisfaction. In فَمَا هُم مِّنَ ٱلْمُعْتَبِينَ : they are not of those who are granted goodwill (41:24), the word is used in the latter sense. اِسۡتِعۡتاب is to want amends to be made, or to give the opportunity to another to make amends (R).
In what respect is the prophet a witness: The witness mentioned here is the prophet sent to each nation and this meaning is made very clear in the last verse of this section. The prophet is a witness for his followers, as well as for his opponents. In this world, he is a role model and exemplar for his followers. In the next world on the Day of Requital, he will testify to their belief and submission, such as in the following verse:
وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ أُمَّةًۭ وَسَطًۭا لِّتَكُونُوا۟ شُهَدَآءَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَيَكُ نَ ٱلرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًۭا :And thus We have made you an exalted nation that you may be the bearers of witness to the people and (that) the Messenger may be a bearer of witness to you (2:143), and in the saying of Jesus: وَكُنتُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيدًۭا مَّا دُمْتُ فِيهِمْ : and I was a witness of them so long as I was among them (5:117). For his opponents, the prophet will provide testimony for their disbelief, sin, and wrongdoing, as stated in:
فَكَيْفَ إِذَا جِئْنَا مِن كُلِّ أُمَّةٍۭ بِشَهِيدٍۢ وَجِئْنَا بِكَ عَلَىٰ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ شَهِيدًۭا
– يَوْمَئِذٍۢ يَوَدُّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَعَصَوُا۟ ٱلرَّسُولَ لَوْ تُسَوَّىٰ بِهِمُ ٱلْأَرْضُ
: But how will it be when We bring from every people a witness and bring thee as a witness against these? On that day will those who disbelieved and disobeyed the Messenger desire that the earth were levelled with them (4:41,42). The implication of permission denied to the disbelievers is that they will not be given an opportunity to make excuses, as stated elsewhere as well: وَلَا يُؤْذَنُ لَهُمْ فَيَعْتَذِرُونَ : Nor are they allowed to offer excuses (77:36), but even more seriously, they will not be given the opportunity to remove Allah’s displeasure by making excuses and asking to make amends, because it will be too late for that.
16-85 And when the wrongdoers see the chastisement, it will not be lightened for them, nor will they be respited.
وَإِذَا رَءَا ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ فَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمْ وَلَا هُمْ يُنظَرُونَ (۸۵)
16-86 And when those who ascribed partners (to Allah) see their associate-gods, they will say: Our Lord, these are our associate-gods on whom we called besides Thee. But they will throw back at them the word: Surely you are liars.a
وَإِذَا رَءَا ٱلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا۟ شُرَكَآءَهُمْ قَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَا هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ شُرَكَآؤُنَا ٱلَّذِينَ كُنَّا نَدْعُوا۟ مِن دُونِكَ ۖ فَأَلْقَوْا۟ إِلَيْهِمُ ٱلْقَوْلَ إِنَّكُمْ لَكَـٰذِبُونَ (۸۶)
16-86a: In another place, it is stated: مَّا كُنتُمْ إِيَّانَا تَعْبُدُونَ :It was not us that you served (10:28) and بَلْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْبُدُونَ ٱلْجِنَّ : nay, they worshipped the jinn (34:41). Actually, they worship their superstitions because there is no reality in the things that they manifestly worship.
16-87 And they will tender submission to Allah on that day, and what they used to forge will fail them.
وَأَلْقَوْا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ يَوْمَئِذٍ ٱلسَّلَمَ ۖ وَضَلَّ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَ (۸۷)
16-88 Those who disbelieve and hinder (men) from Allah’s way, We will add chastisement to their chastisement because they made mischief.a
ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَصَدُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ زِدْنَـٰهُمْ عَذَابًۭا فَوْقَ ٱلْعَذَابِ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يُفْسِدُونَ (۸۸)
16-88a: Their sin is not only their own disbelief but also stopping others from the way of Allah. Hence the adding of chastisement to their chastisement.
16-89 And on the day when We raise up in every people a witness against them from among themselves, and bring thee as a witness against these. And We have revealed the Book to thee explaining all things, and a guidance and mercy and good news for those who submit.a
وَيَوْمَ نَبْعَثُ فِى كُلِّ أُمَّةٍۢ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ وَجِئْنَا بِكَ شَهِيدًا عَلَىٰ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ ۚ وَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ تِبْيَـٰنًۭا لِّكُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ وَهُدًۭى وَرَحْمَةًۭ وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ (۸۹)
16-89a: The last verse of this section mentions the same topic of raising witnesses as is mentioned in the first verse of this section. It then talks about the Quran, the revelation that is disputed and rejected by the disbelievers. In this way, a connection is made with the subject of the next section. The Quran is called تِبْيَـٰنًۭا لِّكُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ explaining all things because all the principles of religions are explained clearly, all the necessary knowledge is imparted to perfection and all the ways of evil are rejected clearly and totally.
Bayan-ul-Quran 