Concerning His saying, exalted is He, “And if We had sent down to you a written scripture on parchment”—the verse: al-Kalbi and Muqatil (1) said that it was revealed concerning al-Nadr ibn al-Harith, ‘Abdullah ibn Abi Umayyah, and Nawfal ibn Khuwaylid. They said, “O Muhammad, we shall not believe you until you bring us a book from Allah, accompanied by four angels who testify that it is from Allah and that you are His Messenger.” Thereupon Allah, exalted is He, revealed: “And if We had sent down to you a written scripture on parchment,” written from Me, “and they had touched it with their hands”—that is, they had seen it directly and touched it with their hands.

Touch was mentioned rather than direct sight because touch is more conclusive in producing certainty than sight (2), for magic can affect what is seen but not what is touched. “Those who disbelieved would surely have said, ‘This is nothing but manifest magic.’” Its meaning is that nothing would benefit them, because of My prior knowledge concerning them.

“And they said, ‘Why has an angel not been sent down to him?’ But if We had sent down an angel, the matter would have been decided, and then they would not be granted respite. (8)”