Overall meaning : Mention to the people, Muhammad, the time when the unbelievers will argue in the Fire. The lowly followers will say to their arrogant leaders, ‘We were your obedient followers in the life of the world; will you, therefore, relieve us of a portion of the torment of the Fire?’ Their leaders will say, ‘We are all in Hell together. Allah has judged justly between His slaves!’
The dwellers of Hell will say to the keepers of Hell, ‘Implore your Lord to lighten our torment even for a single day.’ The keepers of Hell will reprovingly ask them, ‘Did your messengers in the world not come to you with clear proofs testifying to the truth?’ ‘Yes, they did,’ they will reply. The keepers will say, ‘Pray, then, to Allah to lighten your torment for as much as you like, for the unbelievers’ prayers will only be in vain!’