And when they said, 'This clear speech is corrupt without any exposure to refuting what he said to them by way of a type of doubt,' it was as if it was said to them: 'This which I have said to you is neither clearer nor more just than it. Assume that its correctness has not appeared to you; what do you say that has led me to it, while it contains your opposition and you are the sons of my uncle and the dearest people to me?' They said: 'We say nothing but that some of our gods has afflicted you with evil,' meaning: it has struck you and overwhelmed you, clinging to you like the clinging of a limb to that which it is in, with intent and force, 'some of our gods with evil,' in the sense of madness and insanity, and that is what drives you to prohibit the worship of them.

And when human nature dictates that a person fears one who has harmed him, while he imagines that he is capable of harming him, he does not confront him with what he dislikes. And their saying was a provocation for the listener to inquire about his response to them. So, He, glorified and exalted is He, began to inform about it by saying: 'He said,' negating what they said and clarifying that their gods possess nothing for them with it. And He confirmed that they are in a state where they do not think that anyone would say what he said: 'Indeed, I bear witness to Allah,' meaning the greatest King, to establish my excuse before Him. And He was careful in His manner with Allah not to say: 'And I bear witness to you,' so that it would not be imagined that there is equality, and He used the imperative form as a sign of disdain for them, saying: 'And bear witness,' meaning: you, so that the proof may stand against you, and your incapacity may be made clear, and everyone may know that you are in a state where you are despised and your religion is disregarded, and you are of no concern to Him or to it. 'Indeed, I am free from what you associate' [Al-An'am: 78]. And He clarified its lowliness by saying: 'besides Him' [Hud: 55], whatever it may be and whoever it may be. So how about if there is nothing but an inanimate object?