Allah says: 'thus We caused denial, disbelief, rejection and stubbornness to enter the hearts of the sinners.' {They will not believe in it} i.e., the truth, {until they see the painful torment.} means, when their excuses will be of no avail, and the curse will be upon them, and theirs will be an evil abode. {It shall come to them of a sudden,} means, the punishment of Allah will come upon them suddenly, {while they perceive it not. Then they will say: "Can we be respited?"} means, when they see the punishment, then they will wish they had a little more time so that they can obey Allah - or so they claim. This is like the Ayah: {And warn mankind of the Day when the torment will come unto them} until: {that you would not leave!} 14:44. When every sinner and evildoer sees his punishment, he will feel intense regret. Such was the case of Fir'awn, when Musa prayed against him: {Our Lord! You have indeed bestowed on Fir'awn and his chiefs splendor and wealth in the life of this world} until: {(Allah) said: "Verily, the invocation of you both is accepted."} 10:88-89. This supplication had an effect on Fir'awn: he did not believe until he saw the painful torment: {till when drowning overtook him, he said: "I believe that none has the right to be worshipped but He in Whom the Children of Israel believe."} until: {and you were one of the mischief-makers} 10:90-91. And Allah says: {So when they saw Our punishment, they said: "We believe in Allah Alone..."} 40:84-85. {Would they then wish for Our torment to be hastened on?} This is a denunciation and a threat, because they used to say to the Messenger, by way of denial, thinking it unlikely ever to happen: {Bring Allah's torment upon us} 29:29. This is as Allah said: {And they ask you to hasten on the torment...} 29:53-55. Then Allah says: {Think, if We do let them enjoy for years, and afterwards comes to them that which they had been promised, all that with which they used to enjoy shall not avail them.} meaning, 'even if We delay the matter and give them respite for a short while or for a long time, then the punishment of Allah comes upon them, what good will their life of luxury do them then?' {The Day they see it, (it will be) as if they had not tarried (in this world) except an afternoon or a morning} 79:46. And Allah says: {Everyone of them wishes that he could be given a life of a thousand years. But the grant of such life will not save him even a little from punishment} 2:96. {And what will his wealth avail him when he goes down?} 92:11 {the people thereof are wrongdoers} 28:59.