(31–34) And His words: “When Our verses are recited to them, they say, ‘We have already heard. If we wished, we could say the like of this. These are nothing but tales of the ancients.’ * And when they said, ‘O Allah, if this is indeed the truth from You, then rain down stones upon us from the sky or bring us a painful punishment.’ * But Allah would not punish them while you are among them, nor would Allah punish them while they seek forgiveness. *”

Allah Most High describes the obstinacy of those who denied the Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace: “When Our verses are recited to them,” which demonstrate the truthfulness of what the Messenger brought,

“they say, ‘We have already heard. If we wished, we could say the like of this. These are nothing but tales of the ancients.’” This arose from their obstinacy and wrongdoing. Allah had challenged them to produce a single surah like it and to call upon whomever they could besides Allah, yet they were unable to do so, and their impotence became manifest.

Thus, this statement by the one who uttered it was merely a claim disproved by reality. He knew that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was unlettered, able neither to read nor write, and that he had never travelled to study the accounts of earlier peoples. Yet he brought this glorious Book, which falsehood cannot approach from before it or from behind it—a revelation from One All-Wise, Praiseworthy.

“And when they said, ‘O Allah, if this”—to which Muhammad calls—“is indeed the truth from You, then rain down stones upon us from the sky or bring us a painful punishment.’” They said this because they were utterly convinced of their falsehood and were ignorant of the proper manner of speaking.

If, when they persisted in their falsehood on account of the specious arguments and deceptions that led them to believe they possessed clear insight and certainty concerning it, they had instead said to the one who debated them and claimed that the truth was with him, “If this is indeed the truth from You, then guide us to it,” that would have been more fitting for them and would have concealed their wrongdoing better.

From the very moment they said, “O Allah, if this is indeed the truth from You,” to the end of the verse, their words alone made it known that they were foolish, senseless, ignorant, and unjust. Had Allah hastened their punishment, He would not have left a single one of them alive. But Allah Most High withheld the punishment from them because the Messenger was among them. He therefore said: “But Allah would not punish them while you are among them.” His presence among them, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, safeguarded them from punishment.

Although they made this declaration publicly before everyone, they knew how reprehensible it was. They therefore feared that it might befall them and would seek Allah’s forgiveness [—Exalted is He. For this reason,] Allah Most High said: “Nor would Allah punish them while they seek forgiveness.”

This was an impediment preventing the punishment from befalling them after its causes had already become established. Then He said: