Ash-Shu'ara Verse 203

Then they will cry, “Can we be allowed more time?”

They will then say, “Can we be granted some respite?”

and they will say, 'Shall we be respited?'

and then they will say, ‘Can we have more time?’

Then they will say: are we to be respited?

Then they will say; "Shall we be respited?"

they say: "Can we be granted some respite?"

Then will they say: "Can we be given respite?"

They will therefore say, “Will we get some respite?”

Thereupon they will say, ‘Shall we be granted any respite?’

Then they say: "Are we to be granted some respite (so that we might reform ourselves?"

They will say then, `Shall we be given some respite?´

So they say: "Are we delayed ?"

They will therefore say, “Will we get some respite?”

And it shall come to them suddenly when they perceive not.

Then they will say: "Can we be respited?"

They will not believe in it till they see the painful chastisement:

Then they will say: Shall we be respited?

Then they will say: Are we to be reprieved?

They will say, "Can we be granted any respite?"

and then they will say: 'Shall we be respited'

Then they will say: "Can we be respited"

Then they will exclaim, "Could we have some respite?"

Then they will say, “Are we given any respite?”

Thereupon they will say, `Shall we be granted any respite?', that we might become believers?; and it shall be said to them, `No!', and they will say, `When will this chastisement be?' God, exalted be He, says;

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;

وَأَنذِرِ النَّاسَ يَوْمَ يَأْتِيهِمُ الْعَذَابُ فَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ رَبَّنَا أَخِّرْنَا إِلَى أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ نُّجِبْ دَعْوَتَكَ وَنَتَّبِعِ الرُّسُلَ أَوَلَمْ تَكُونُواْ أَقْسَمْتُم مِّن قَبْلُ مَا لَكُم مِّن زَوَالٍ


And warn mankind of the Day when the torment will come unto them; then the wrongdoers will say;"Our Lord! Respite us for a little while, we will answer Your call and follow the Messengers!" (It will be said;) "Had you not sworn aforetime that you would not leave (the world for the Hereafter)." (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;

رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ اتَيْتَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلهُ زِينَةً وَأَمْوَالاً فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا رَبَّنَا لِيُضِلُّواْ عَن سَبِيلِكَ رَبَّنَا اطْمِسْ عَلَى أَمْوَالِهِمْ وَاشْدُدْ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ فَلَ يُوْمِنُواْ حَتَّى يَرَوُاْ الْعَذَابَ الَالِيمَ


قَالَ قَدْ أُجِيبَت دَّعْوَتُكُمَا


Our Lord! You have indeed bestowed on Fir`awn and his chiefs splendor and wealth in the life of this world, our Lord! That they may lead men astray from Your path. Our Lord! Destroy their wealth, and harden their hearts, so that they will not believe until they see the painful torment.'

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;

حَتَّى إِذَا أَدْرَكَهُ الْغَرَقُ قَالَ امَنتُ أَنَّهُ لا إِلِـهَ إِلاَّ الَّذِي امَنَتْ بِهِ بَنُو إِسْرَايِيلَ وَأَنَاْ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ


الانَ وَقَدْ عَصَيْتَ قَبْلُ وَكُنتَ مِنَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ


till when drowning overtook him, he (Fir`awn) said;"I believe that none has the right to be worshipped but He in Whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am one of the Muslims." Now (you believe) while you refused to believe before and you were one of the mischief-makers. (10;90-91)

And Allah says;

فَلَمَّا رَأَوْا بَأْسَنَا قَالُوا امَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ وَكَفَرْنَا بِمَا كُنَّا بِهِ مُشْرِكِينَ


فَلَمْ يَكُ يَنفَعُهُمْ إِيمَانُهُمْ لَمَّا رَأَوْا بَأْسَنَا سُنَّتَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي قَدْ خَلَتْ فِي عِبَادِهِ وَخَسِرَ هُنَالِكَ الْكَافِرُونَ


So when they saw Our punishment, they said;"We believe in Allah Alone and reject (all) that we used to associate with Him as (His) partners."

Then their Faith could not avail them when they saw Our punishment. (Like) this has been the way of Allah in dealing with His servants. And there the disbelievers lost utterly. (40;84-85)

And Allah says;

أَفَبِعَذَابِنَا يَسْتَعْجِلُونَ