'So he recited it to them.' This means: that which We revealed to him, in accordance with the eloquence and miraculous nature of it, while they have certain knowledge that he does not know anything of the language. 'They were not believing in it.' This means: firmly established in their disbelief, and they sought to excuse their disbelief by calling it magic or other than that from their obstinacy. 'And most of them do not believe in Allah except while they associate others with Him.' [Yusuf: 106] This is due to their extreme stubbornness, their readiness for evil, and their preparedness for it. Rather, they do not hear it as it should be heard, nor do they comprehend it as it should be comprehended. Rather, their hearing and understanding are not in the proper manner.