And when the estimation was for the narration of their words which imply the attainment of knowledge, they said, swearing by their utmost oaths: 'The Hour will not come to us.' This indicates doubt and blindness. The original was: 'And they said,' but He said: 'And those who disbelieved said' [meaning: they concealed the signs of monotheism and the Hereafter, which are more than can be counted and clearer than light]. This is a commentary on the ruling by description, questioning with the questioning of one who is distant and in denial: 'What if we are dust and our forefathers?' They repeated the questioning, indicating the extremity of their denial and rejection, counting what they distanced themselves from as impossible. They said: 'Are we,' meaning: we and our forefathers, who have had a long time since them, and decay has taken hold of them, 'to be brought forth?' meaning: from the state we have reached of death and decay to what we were upon before that of life and strength.