Then Allah, exalted is He, says:

“Have they not reflected within themselves?”

The pronoun refers to those who know only the outward aspects of worldly life while remaining heedless of the Hereafter.

And His words:

“Have they not reflected? Their companion is not mad; he is only a clear warner. Have they not considered the dominion of the heavens and the earth, everything Allah has created, and the possibility that their appointed time may have drawn near? In what message after this will they believe?”

These words come after His statement:

“As for those who deny Our signs, We shall lead them on, step by step, without their realizing it. And I grant them respite; indeed, My plan is firm.”

Then He says:

“Have they not reflected? Their companion is not”

The pronoun refers to those who deny the signs, for Allah, exalted is He, says:

“Have they not reflected? Their companion is not mad.”

Then Allah, exalted is He, says:

“Have they not considered the dominion of the heavens and the earth, everything Allah has created, and the possibility that their appointed time may have drawn near? In what message after this will they believe?”

Thus, the statement made by these men, such as Abū al-Ma‘ālī and others:

“The first obligation upon a person of sound mind who has reached puberty—whether by attaining the legally prescribed age or by experiencing a wet dream—is to resolve to undertake sound inquiry leading to knowledge that the world came into existence”

originally derives from