And when the listener of this speech intensifies his longing for its answer, and the essence of the call in every religion is the Oneness of Allah, and the one who doubts it is doubting Allah, and the command of Allah is manifest in such a way that no rational person who judges his mind free from desires can doubt it, it is permissible to deny and present the words as if to pose a question that is unqualified and ambiguous in their saying: ﴿Their messengers said﴾. And when what they complained about was manifest in such a way that no doubt can penetrate it, they denied that there could be any doubt in it, because that would entail denying their own doubt and the doubt of others. So they said: ﴿Is there doubt about Allah﴾, meaning the One who possesses all the attributes of perfection ﴿Is there doubt﴾?

And when the answer was general and did not pertain to some people over others, it did not come with a connection. So he said contrary to his saying: ﴿We are but human beings﴾ [Ibrahim: 11]. Then they alerted them with the created being regarding the intended purpose of the call about the existence of the Creator and His uniqueness, and His manifestation in their saying: ﴿Creator of the heavens﴾. And when the situation was for claiming that He is in the utmost manifestation, there was no need for emphasis by repeating the subject. So he said: ﴿and the earth﴾, meaning in this wondrous example and the strange pattern that organizes the conditions, the beautiful returns, and the consistent chapters. When they clarified to them the evidence for His Oneness, they made it clear to them that the fruit of the call is specifically for them. Indeed, He does not reject it from anyone who has the slightest insight. So they said: ﴿He calls you﴾, meaning on our tongues ﴿to forgive you﴾.

And when the disbeliever is only called first to faith, and faith only necessitates what was before it from the sins that exist between them and Him, excluding injustices, he said: ﴿from your sins﴾. And if he had included forgiveness, it would have made it clear that they are not called after faith to any action at all, nor will you be treated as those whom you know of kings in hastening to destroy those who oppose them. Rather, ﴿He will delay you﴾ even if you err or act intentionally and repent ﴿to a specified term﴾ with Him having prior knowledge of it, which is your appointed times according to the differentiation, and He will not eradicate you with punishment all at once as He did with those mentioned from the nations.

So when he made clear to them the truth with his evidence, he terrified them with what there was no doubt about regarding the limitation of its benefit to them. They knew that there was no response for them to that, so they turned away from it until they said, out of stubbornness, "Indeed, you are nothing but humans like us." They confirmed what they intended by denying the exclusivity by saying, "What is the reason for your being specifically chosen for the message over us?" Then it was as if it was said: So what happened? They said, "You want to turn us away from what our fathers used to worship," meaning to divert us and lead us away from a state that is like nature. They emphasized this meaning for the reminder of the past by using the present tense, saying, "Our fathers used to worship." They meant that you, because you are among the humans who experience jealousy, have envied us for following our fathers and aimed to leave us for you to be followers. "So bring us a clear proof," meaning a clear evidence that compels us to believe you from what we propose to you. This is pure obstinacy, for they are deserving of turning away from any proof that comes to them, whatever it may be, just as they disregarded what they brought to them of clear signs, so they did not consider it.