And when the content of this verse is similar to the content of His saying: "Indeed, you are only a warner, and Allah is a Guardian over all things" [Hud: 12], then the warner is one who advises the warned, and the Guardian is the one to whom the matter is referred regarding the thing entrusted to him. What precedes it is an allusion to the accusation against Noah, peace be upon him, of fabrication. He followed it with what he followed regarding the accusation of fabrication, indicating that all these stories are for consolation regarding the matter of warning and for emulation. It is as if it was said: Do they say to you such words? They have indeed said them to Noah, as you see. Then he continued warning them without stopping in leaving anything of what We commanded him, whether it pleased them or angered them. So you have in that an example, and it is enough for you to take him as a model in considering their words as nothing and accepting what We sent you with of giving advice through warning: "Or do they say" in the Quran "He has fabricated it" persistently upon what they have claimed. The proof has refuted it, and the argument has disproved it. It is as if it was said: Yes, they say that. It was said: Do not be concerned; for it is a saying they intend by it mere obstinacy, and they know its contrary after the proofs that have been established against them, which have brought them to the certainty of knowledge. So let their saying not trouble you, for they make it a means to leave off some of what is revealed to you, so do not do that. Rather, say in response to their saying: "If I have fabricated it" meaning: I have cut off its falsehood, "then upon me" meaning: it is specific to me, "is my crime" meaning: its burden and its punishment is upon me alone. If the crime overcomes me, that will be known to the people of reason and will appear clearly, and you are the most knowledgeable of people that I am far from that, more so than the gathering of opposites and the elevation of contradictions, due to what you know of my purity of character, high aspirations, good reputation, noble status, and honorable conduct. This is if I were capable of that, so how could I, while you and I are equally unable to do so? "And I am innocent" meaning: to the utmost degree of innocence "from what you commit" meaning: you bring about its crime. There is no harm from your crime returning to me after I have clarified it to you and uncovered the veil of doubts from you. Indeed, the harm of it is upon you, so act upon remembering this meaning. For the response to them in this manner is more damaging to them than establishing another proof, because they know from it that it is an obligation upon them of disgrace for their severance from the one who has understanding. And it is possible that the implication is: Have your people, O Muhammad, realized the ugliness of such a situation and that it is the situation of the obstinate? So they have refrained out of honor from engaging in such a thing and out of shyness. "Or do they say He has fabricated it" meaning: he has lied about it intentionally, persisting in obstinacy and continuing in distance, just as the people of Noah persisted. Thus, what befell them befell them. That is: Have they returned with this amount from the story of the people of Noah, or are they continuing in what they attributed to you in the beginnings of the surah of fabrication? They need to complete the story with what occurred from their punishment so that they may fear like their affliction. And the fabrication of lies is the act of fabricating it by oneself, for it is more specific than mere lying, as it may be imitation of others.