“Even if We had sent down the angels to them, and the dead had spoken to them, and We had gathered every thing before their very eyes, they still would not believe unless Allah willed. But most of them are ignorant.” (111)

Regarding His words, “And We will turn their hearts and their eyes away, just as they refused to believe in it the first time,” Ibn ‘Abbas said: “That is, We will prevent them from faith. Even if We brought them the signs they requested, they would not believe in them, just as they did not believe in it the first time”—that is, just as they did not believe in the preceding signs, such as the splitting of the moon and others.

It was also said: “Just as they refused to believe in it the first time,” meaning the miracles of Moses and of other prophets, peace be upon them, as Allah, exalted is He, says: “Did they not disbelieve before in what Moses was given?” [al-Qasas 28:48]

The verse contains an omitted phrase, the intended meaning being: “Thus they will not believe, just as they refused to believe in it the first time.” ‘Ali ibn Abi Talhah reported from