They Will Wish They Had Been Muslims

Then Allah (swt) says rubamā yawaddu alladhīna kafarū law kānū muslimīn. Those who disbelieve will at times wish — a time will come when they will wish — that they had been Muslims. The same pattern will be seen throughout: this is a Makkī sūrah, and there is much in it upon establishing the firm beliefs and correcting misunderstandings, correcting many of the wrong notions. So the first thing Allah (swt) treats is how the disbelievers, having seen perhaps the descriptions of the Hellfire — having seen the Hellfire itself by that time — will then wish that they had been Muslims. But at that point the wish to be a Muslim makes no difference any longer. It is too late.

That is why Allah (swt) tells the Prophet (peace be upon him): dharhum yaʾkulū wa yatamattaʿū. Leave them; let them eat and enjoy, and let their hopes make them heedless and distract them. Fa-sawfa yaʿlamūn: soon they will know.