(109–111) “They swear by Allah their most solemn oaths that, if a sign were to come to them, they would certainly believe in it. Say, ‘The signs are with Allah alone.’ What will make you realize that, even if a sign were to come, they would not believe? * We will turn their hearts and their eyes away, just as they refused to believe in it the first time, and We will leave them wandering blindly in their transgression.”
That is, the polytheists who denied the Messenger Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—“swear by Allah their most solemn oaths”; that is, they swear emphatic and solemn oaths that “if a sign were to come to them” demonstrating the truthfulness of Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—“they would certainly believe in it.”
Their purpose in making this statement was not to seek right guidance. Rather, they sought to ward off criticism and reject outright what the Messenger had brought. Allah had supported His Messenger—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—with clear signs and manifest proofs which, when duly considered, leave not the slightest doubt or uncertainty about the truth of what he brought. Their subsequent demand for signs was therefore mere obstinacy, and there was no obligation to grant it. Indeed, withholding what they requested might be better for them, for Allah’s established way with His servants is that when those who demand particular signs from their messengers are shown those signs but still do not believe, He swiftly punishes them.
Thus He said: “Say, ‘The signs are with Allah alone.’” That is, He sends them when He wills and withholds them when He wills. I have no authority over the matter. Your demand that I produce signs is therefore unjust, for you are asking me for something I do not possess. Rather, you should concern yourselves with whether what I have brought you has been made clear and confirmed—and that has already occurred. Even so, it is by no means certain that they would believe and affirm the truth if the signs came to them. On the contrary, people in such a state generally do not believe. Hence He said: “What will make you realize that, even if a sign were to come, they would not believe?”
“We will turn their hearts and their eyes away, just as they refused to believe in it the first time, and We will leave them wandering blindly in their transgression.” That is, when they fail to believe the first time the call reaches them and the proof is established against them, We punish them by turning their hearts away, barring them from faith, and withholding the divine enablement to follow the straight path.
This stems from Allah’s justice and wisdom in dealing with His servants. They are the ones who wronged themselves: the door was opened to them, but they did not enter; the path was made clear to them, but they did not follow it. It is therefore fitting for their condition that they should thereafter be denied divine enablement.