and this is nothing. “This is nothing but tales of the ancients”—their stories and lies which they wrote down.

“Say, ‘Travel through the land and see what was the end of the evildoers.’ (69) And do not grieve over them, nor be distressed by what they plot. (70) They say, ‘When will this promise come to pass, if you are truthful?’ (71) Say, ‘Perhaps some of that which you seek to hasten has drawn near to you.’ (72) Indeed, your Lord is full of bounty toward mankind, but most of them are not grateful. (73) And indeed, your Lord surely knows what their breasts conceal and what they reveal. (74) There is no hidden thing in heaven or earth but that it is in a clear Book. (75) Indeed, this Quran relates to the Children of Israel most of that over which they differ.” (76)

“Say, ‘Travel through the land and see what was the end of the evildoers.’ And do not grieve over them”—because of their rejection of you and their turning away from you—“nor be distressed by what they plot.” This was revealed concerning the mockers who divided among themselves the mountain passes of Mecca.

“They say, ‘When will this promise come to pass, if you are truthful?’ Say, ‘Perhaps some of that which you seek to hasten has drawn near to you,’” that is, it has approached and come near to you. It was also said that it means: it has followed you; thus, the meaning is, “it has come close behind you.” The letter lām is included here just as it is included in His saying, “They fear their Lord” (al-Araf 154). Al-Farra said: The lām is an additional connective particle, as one may say, “I paid him one hundred,” or, “I paid one hundred to him.” “Some of that which you seek to hasten”—namely, the punishment—then befell them on the Day of Badr.

“Indeed, your Lord is full of bounty toward mankind.” Muqatil said: This refers to the people of Mecca, since He did not hasten the punishment upon them. “But most of them are not grateful” for this.

“Indeed, your Lord surely knows what their breasts conceal”—that is, what they hide (1)—“and what they reveal. There is no hidden thing,” that is, no concealed secret, obscure matter, or absent thing, “in heaven or earth but that it is in a clear Book,” meaning the Preserved Tablet.

“Indeed, this Quran relates to the Children of Israel,” that is, it makes clear to them, “most of that over which they differ” regarding matters of religion. Al-Kalbi said: The People of the Book differed among themselves and became factions, some of them casting aspersions against