And when the Exalted informed about their inner selves, He followed it with what indicates it from the outward. He clarified that when they were warned against general corruption, they claimed general righteousness by saying: ﴿And when it is said to them﴾. The construction for the unknown is a reference to their disobedience to every speaker, whoever he may be, ﴿Do not cause corruption in the land﴾, meaning by what we see of your vile actions. Corruption is the disruption of the form of a thing. This was said by al-Harali.

﴿They said﴾, limiting their action to righteousness and denying every corruption, boasting without being concerned, ﴿Indeed, we are but reformers﴾. And reform is the remedy for the defect of a thing. This was said by al-Harali.