"And they urge you to hasten the punishment." The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to warn them of the punishment if they did not believe; so they would urge its hastening out of mockery and denial. Allah said: "And had it not been for a specified term" (folio 261), the [first] blast of the Trumpet, "the punishment would have reached them." Meaning that Allah has delayed the punishment of the disbelievers of the latter part of this Ummah by way of total destruction until the first blast of the Trumpet; by it, their destruction will occur.