Waanthirhum yawma al-azifati ithi alquloobu lada alhanajiri kathimeena ma liththalimeena min hameemin (surah Ghafir: 18)

Tafseer Tafheem-ul-Quran by Syed Abu-al-A'la Maududi

(40:18) (O Prophet), then warn them of the Day that has drawn near, *30 the Day when hearts full of suppressed grief will leap up to the throats and the wrong-doers shall neither have any sincere friend *31 nor intercessor whose word will be heeded. *32

Wa anzirhum yawmal aazifati izil quloobu ladal hanaajiri kaazimeen; maa lizzaalimeena min hameeminw wa laa shafee`iny-yutaa

*30) In the Qur'an the people have been made to realize again and again that Resurrection is not far off but has approached near at hand, and can take place any moment. In An-Nahl: 1, it has been said: "Allah's Judgement has come, so do not clamour for hastening it;" in Al-Anbiya':1: "The time of the reckoning of the people has drawn near, and yet they arc turning away in heedlessness;" in AI-Qamar: 1: "The Hour of Resurrection has drawn near and the moon has split asunder; " and in An-Najm: 57: "That which is coming is near at hand: none but Allah can avert it." All this is meant to warn the people to the effect that they should not become fearless of Resurrection thinking it to be yet far away, but should mend their ways and reform themselves at once.
*31) The word hamim as used in the original implies such a friend of a person as is aroused to action when he sees hire being beaten, and rushes forward to protect and save Him.
*32) This thing has been said to refute the concept of intercession held by the disbelievers. As a matter of fact, the wicked people will have no intercessor at all, for permission to intercede, if at all granted, can be granted only to the righteous servants of Allah, and Allah's righteous servants can never make friends with the disbelievers, polytheists and sinners so that they should even think of intruding on their behalf to save them. But as the disbelievers have generally held, and still hold, the belief that the saints, whose disciples they are, will not allow that they go to Hell, but will see that they are forgiven. Therefore, it has been said: There will be no such intercessor there. who may have to be listened to, and whose recommendation Allah may have to accept necessarily."