(16) “As for those who dispute concerning Allah after people have responded to Him, their argument is futile in the sight of their Lord. Wrath is upon them, and they will suffer a severe punishment.”

This affirms His words, “There is no argument between us and you.” Here He states that those “who dispute concerning Allah” with false arguments and contradictory specious claims “after people have responded to Him”—that is, after people of understanding and sound reason have responded to Allah because of the decisive signs and luminous proofs He has made clear to them—are disputing against the truth after it has become evident. “Their argument is futile,” meaning false and refuted, “in the sight of their Lord,” because it entails rejecting the truth, and whatever contradicts the truth is false.

“Wrath is upon them” because of their disobedience, their rejection of Allah’s proofs and clear signs, and their denial of them. “And they will suffer a severe punishment” as a consequence of Allah’s wrath against them. Such is the punishment of everyone who disputes against the truth with falsehood.