وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى مَنْ أَسْرَفَ وَلَمْ يُؤْمِنۢ بِـَٔايَٰتِ رَبِّهِۦ ۚ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ أَشَدُّ وَأَبْقَىٰٓ
Commentary:
The verse presents some difficulty. In the preceding three verses we are told that a disbeliever will be raised up blind in the hereafter as a punishment for having turned a blind eye to God’s attributes and in this verse it is stated that the punishment of the Hereafter is surely severer and more lasting, which means that there will be another punishment severer and more lasting than the former punishment. What are these two punishments of the Hereafter? This difficulty is solved by vv. 2:167 and 6:95 wherein it is stated that when disbelievers will be disowned by their false gods and will be left alone, the falsity of their beliefs will dawn on them and consequently their remorse and frustration will be bitter in the extreme. That bitter realization will constitute the first punishment and the torment of Hell will form the second and more severe punishment.