(34–37) “These people surely say, * ‘There is nothing beyond our first death, and we will never be resurrected. * Then bring back our forefathers, if you are truthful.’ * Are they better, or the people of Tubba and those before them? We destroyed them, for they were indeed evildoers.”

Allah Most High informs us that “these people”—the deniers—speak of resurrection and being raised from the dead as something inconceivable, saying: “There is nothing beyond our first death, and we will never be resurrected.” That is, there is only this worldly life: there will be no resurrection, no raising of the dead, no Paradise, and no Hellfire. Then, brazenly defying their Lord and challenging His power, they said: “Then bring back our forefathers, if you are truthful.” This is the demand of ignorant and obstinate people who are far removed from the truth. What necessary connection is there between the truthfulness of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and its being contingent upon bringing back their forefathers? The signs establishing the truth of what he brought them had already appeared and were overwhelmingly corroborated in every respect.

Allah Most High said: “Are they better”—meaning those now being addressed—“or the people of Tubba and those before them? We destroyed them, for they were indeed evildoers.” They are no better than those earlier peoples, and they share in the same evildoing. Let them therefore expect the same destruction that befell their fellow evildoers.