(133–135) “They say, ‘Why does he not bring us a sign from his Lord?’ Has there not come to them the clear proof of what was contained in the earlier Scriptures? Had We destroyed them with a punishment before this, they would have said, ‘Our Lord, why did You not send us a messenger so that we might follow Your signs before we were brought low and disgraced?’ Say, ‘Everyone is waiting, so wait. You will come to know who are the people of the straight path and who is rightly guided.’”

That is, those who denied the Messenger—peace and blessings be upon him—said, “Why does he not bring us a sign from his Lord?” They meant the signs they demanded, as when they said:

“We will never believe you until you cause a spring to gush forth for us from the earth, or until you have a garden of date palms and grapevines and cause rivers to flow abundantly through it, or cause the sky to fall upon us in fragments, as you have claimed, or bring Allah and the angels before us.”

This was obstinacy, stubbornness, and wrongdoing on their part. Both they and the Messenger were human beings and servants of Allah, so it was not for them to demand signs according to their whims. Rather, it is Allah who sends them down and chooses whichever of them He wills in accordance with His wisdom.

Moreover, their statement, “Why have signs not been sent down to him from his Lord?” implies that he had brought them no sign proving his truthfulness and no clear proof establishing the truth of his message. This was a lie and a fabrication, for he brought dazzling miracles and compelling signs, even a few of which would have sufficed to establish the intended proof. Hence He said, “Has there not come to them”—if they are truthful in what they say and genuinely seek the truth through its evidence—“the clear proof of what was contained in the earlier Scriptures?”

That is, this magnificent Quran confirms what is contained in the earlier Scriptures—the Torah, the Gospel, and the other previous Books. It accords with them and relates what they related. Moreover, those Scriptures attest its truth and contain glad tidings of the Messenger. This is like the saying of Allah, Exalted is He:

“Is it not enough for them that We have sent down to you the Book, which is recited to them? Indeed, in that is surely mercy and a reminder for people who believe.”

Signs benefit the believers, increasing them in faith and certainty. As for those who turn away from and oppose them, they will neither believe in them nor benefit from them:

“Indeed, those against whom your Lord’s word has come into effect will not believe, even if every sign were to come to them, until they see the punishment.”

The only benefit in presenting these signs to them and addressing them with them is to establish Allah’s proof against them, lest they say when the punishment descends upon them, “Why did You not send us a messenger so that we might follow Your signs before we were brought low and disgraced” by punishment? My Messenger has now come to you, bringing My signs and proofs. If you are as you claim, then believe him.

Say, O Muhammad, addressing those who deny you and say, “Wait for the vicissitudes of fate to bring about his death”: “Everyone is waiting.” So await my death, while I await your punishment.

“Say, ‘Are you waiting for anything to befall us except one of the two best outcomes?’”—that is, victory or martyrdom—“while we are waiting for Allah to afflict you with a punishment from Himself or at our hands.” ⦗518⦘

“So wait, and you will come to know who are the people of the straight path”—that is, the upright path—“and who is rightly guided” by following it: is it I or you? Whoever follows that path is triumphant and rightly guided, saved and successful; but whoever deviates from it is a losing, disappointed sufferer of punishment. It is well known that the Messenger is the one who possesses these qualities, whereas his enemies are the opposite. And Allah knows best.