“And the disbelievers’ disbelief only increases them, in the sight of their Lord, in abhorrence”: that is, wrath. “And the disbelievers’ disbelief only increases them in loss.”

“Say, ‘Have you considered your partners whom you invoke besides Allah? Show me what they have created of the earth, or whether they have any share in the heavens. Or have We given them a Book so that they stand upon clear proof from it? Rather, the wrongdoers promise one another nothing but delusion.’ (40)

“Indeed, Allah holds the heavens and the earth lest they pass away; and if they were to pass away, none could hold them after Him. Indeed, He is Most Forbearing, Most Forgiving.” (41)

“They swore by Allah their most solemn oaths that, if a warner came to them, they would surely be better guided than one of the communities. Yet when a warner came to them, it only increased them in aversion.” (42)

“Say, ‘Have you considered your partners whom you invoke besides Allah?’”: that is, those whom you have claimed to be My partners—the idols. “Show me what they have created of the earth, or whether they have any share in the heavens. Or have We given them a Book?” Muqatil said: “Have We given the disbelievers of Mecca a Book, so that they stand upon clear proof from it?” Ibn Kathir, Abu Amr, Hamzah, and Hafs recited bayyinah (clear proof) in the singular, while the others recited bayyinat (clear proofs) in the plural—that is, clear evidences from the various forms of exposition contained in that Book.

“Rather, the wrongdoers promise one another nothing but delusion”: that is, they promise nothing. Delusion is anything that deceives a person despite having no basis. Muqatil said: This refers to Satan’s promise to the disbelievers among the descendants of Adam that their gods will intercede for them in the Hereafter; it is mere delusion and falsehood.

His saying, exalted is He: “Indeed, Allah holds the heavens and the earth lest they pass away”: that is, lest they vanish. “And if they were to pass away, none could hold them after Him”: that is, no one could hold them after Him—meaning, no one besides Him. “Indeed, He is Most Forbearing, Most Forgiving.” If it is asked: What is the significance of mentioning forbearance here? It is said: Because the heavens and the earth were on the verge of bringing punishment upon the disbelievers, but Allah, exalted is He, held them back from passing away through His forbearance and forgiveness, rather than immediately dealing with the disbelievers by punishment.

“They swore by Allah their most solemn oaths”: this refers to the disbelievers of Mecca. When news reached them that the People of the Book had denied their messengers, they said, “May Allah curse the Jews and the Christians: messengers came to them, yet they denied them.” They swore by Allah and said, “If a messenger came to us, we would surely be more rightly guided in religion than they are.” This was before the mission of the Prophet. Then, when Muhammad was sent, they denied him. So Allah, exalted is He, revealed: “They swore by Allah their most solemn oaths that, if a warner came to them”—(1) a messenger—“they would surely be better guided than one of the communities.”