And when the context guided to the fact that the estimation is: This which we pointed to, that there is no barrier for them from us, he countered it by saying in denial of them: ﴿Or do they have deities﴾ described as ﴿that prevent them﴾ from the calamities of time. And when all ranks are beneath His rank, glorified is He, he affirmed the particle of beginning and said [belittling them]: ﴿besides us﴾ meaning [from -] something disliked that is under our will and from a direction other than our direction.

And when the answer is certainly: [They do not have that -], and it means the same as questioning, he began to inform what supports this answer, and it may be that it is an explanation, so he said: ﴿They are not able﴾ meaning the deities which they claim benefit them, or they - because there is no barrier for them from us - ﴿to help themselves﴾ without our will, so how about others, or it may be that this is a description of the deities in a mocking manner ﴿nor are they﴾ meaning the disbelievers or the deities ﴿with us﴾ meaning by what we have of greatness ﴿accompanied﴾ [in a manner of companionship -] until they have the ability with us, so the doors of ability were completely closed to them.