They followed him in what they claimed was evidence for their saying. They said: "Why not?"; meaning: Why not bring us the angels as evidence for your truthfulness? Either to testify for you, or to destroy those who oppose you. "If you are"; meaning: by nature and disposition, "among the truthful"; in what you say. What is the reason for your distinction from us by the descent of the angels upon you, and your seeing them, while you are like us in humanity, lineage, and country? This is after the conclusive evidence and clear proofs have been established for his truthfulness, the greatest of which is the Qur'an, which calls them to challenge at all times, and exposes their inability to engage in debate at every moment.