Then how can you protect yourselves from the punishment, if you disbelieved, on a Day that will make the children gray-headed?
Ibn Jarir quoted in the recitation of Ibn Mas`ud:
"How can you, O people, fear a Day that makes the children grey-headed, if you disbelieve in Allah and do not testify to Him"
So the first interpretation would mean,
- `how can you attain safety for yourselves from the Day of this great horror if you disbelieve'
It could imply the meaning,
- `how can you all attain piety if you disbelieve in the Day of Judgement and reject it.'
Both of these meanings are good. However, the first interpretation is closer to the truth. And Allah knows best.
The meaning of Allah's statement,
...
يَوْمًا يَجْعَلُ الْوِلْدَانَ شِيبًا
On a Day that will make the children gray-headed, is that this will happen due to the severity of its horrors, its earth- quakes and its disturbing confusion. This is when Allah will say to Adam,
"Send a group to the Fire."
Adam will say, "How many"
Allah will then reply, "From every thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine to the Fire, and one to Paradise."
Then Allah says,