“Then which of your Lord’s favors will you both deny?”

in that they are signs of the Lord through which people attain guidance and faith, bringing them happiness in this world and the Hereafter. They point them to Him and to His oneness, power, knowledge, wisdom, and mercy.

The signs with which He sent the prophets, supported them, and granted them victory, together with His destruction of their enemies—as He mentions in Surah al-Najm:

“And He destroyed ancient ‘Ād, and Thamūd, sparing none, and before them the people of Noah, who were indeed more unjust and more rebellious. And He cast down the overturned city, covering it with whatever covered it”—

demonstrate to them the truthfulness of the prophets in what they conveyed of commands and prohibitions, promises and threats, and the glad tidings and warnings they brought. Hence He said immediately afterward:

“This is a warner from among the warners of old.”

It is said that this refers to Muhammad, and it is said that it refers to the Quran. Allah has described each as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner. Concerning the Messenger of Allah, He said:

“I am only a warner and a bearer of glad tidings to people who believe.”

And He, the Exalted, said:

“Indeed, We have sent you as a witness, a bearer of glad tidings, and a warner.”

Concerning the Quran, He, the Exalted, said:

“A Book whose verses have been explained in detail—an Arabic Quran for people who know—bringing glad tidings and warnings.”

The two are inseparably linked, and both meanings are intended. It may be explained thus: this is a warner who has warned of what the earlier messengers and scriptures warned of. His words “from among the warners” mean that he is of their kind—that is, a messenger among