That is, it is rendered futile, leads them astray, and does them no good.

“Indeed, We shall surely support Our messengers and those who believe in the life of this world and on the Day when the witnesses stand: the Day when the wrongdoers’ excuse will not benefit them. The curse will be upon them, and theirs will be the worst abode. And We certainly gave Moses guidance and caused the Children of Israel to inherit the Scripture, as guidance and a reminder for people of understanding. So be patient, for Allah’s promise is true. Seek forgiveness for your sin, and glorify your Lord with His praise in the evening and at dawn. Indeed, those who dispute concerning Allah’s signs without any authority having come to them have nothing in their hearts but an arrogant ambition which they will never attain. So seek refuge in Allah. Indeed, He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.” (51–56)

Regarding His saying, “Indeed, We shall surely support Our messengers and those who believe in the life of this world,” Ibn Abbas said: “Through victory and subjugation.” Al-Dahhak said: “Through proof, and in the Hereafter by granting them a valid defense.” It was also said: through vengeance upon their enemies in this world and the Hereafter. All of this did indeed occur for the prophets and the believers: they are granted victory through proof over those who oppose them; Allah grants them victory by overcoming those who resist them and destroying their enemies; and, after they have been killed, He grants them victory by taking vengeance upon their enemies. Thus He granted victory to John, son of Zechariah: when he was killed, seventy thousand were killed in retribution for him. Thus, they are granted victory in one of these ways.

“And on the Day when the witnesses stand”: that is, on the Day of Resurrection, the recording angels will stand and testify that the messengers conveyed the message, and against the disbelievers that they denied it.

“The Day when the wrongdoers’ excuse will not benefit them”: if they seek to excuse their disbelief, their excuse will not be accepted from them; and if they repent, it will not benefit them. “The curse will be upon them”: that is, remoteness from mercy. “And theirs will be the worst abode”: that is, Hell.

“And We certainly gave Moses guidance.” Muqatil said: guidance away from error, meaning the Torah. “And We caused the Children of Israel to inherit the Scripture”: the Torah (1).

“As guidance and a reminder for people of understanding.”

“So be patient,” O Muhammad, in the face of their harm. “For Allah’s promise,” to make your religion prevail and to destroy your enemies, “is true.” Al-Kalbi said: “The verse commanding combat abrogated the verse commanding patience” (2). “Seek forgiveness for your sin”: this is a devotional command from Allah, by which He increases him in rank and establishes it as a sunnah for those after him. “And glorify your Lord with His praise”: pray, giving thanks to your Lord, “in the evening and at dawn.” Al-Hasan said: this refers to the afternoon prayer and the dawn prayer. Ibn Abbas said: the five daily prayers.

“Indeed, those who dispute concerning Allah’s signs without any authority having come to them—there is nothing in their breasts”: that is, nothing in their hearts; and the breast is