Yet it may be asked: Has He done more than announce it and state that people are of two kinds—those in the lowest of the low and those who will have an unfailing reward? He has thus mentioned glad tidings and warnings, and the messengers were sent as bearers of glad tidings and warners. Whoever rejects you after this, his judgment rests with Allah, the most just of judges, while you have conveyed what you were obliged to convey.

His words, “Who, then, can deny your account?” do not mean that no such rejection occurs, for it has indeed occurred. Rather, it may be said that they express astonishment at it, as in His words:

“If you are astonished, then astonishing is their saying, ‘When we have become dust, will we really be created anew?’”

It may also be said that this belittles the denier’s importance and diminishes his standing because of his ignorance and wrongdoing, just as one might say, “Who is so-and-so?” or “Who but an ignorant person would say this?” Yet He uses mā (“what”), because it indicates the person’s qualities, which are what is intended; his individual identity is of no concern. It is as though He said: “What sort of person, then—what ignorant person—denies your account of the Recompense after this? He is indeed among those who will be returned to the lowest of the low.”

His words, “Is Allah not the most just of judges?” indicate that He is the Judge between the one who denies the Recompense and the one who believes in it. The decision in this matter belongs to Him, glorified and exalted be He.