Then he clarified their recklessness and incapacity by his saying: "And if" meaning while they "were" in the past a state firmly established in their souls. Between the proximity of their despair from their joy is an indication of the quickness of their reaction and the abundance of their fluctuations with the neighbor. So he said: "Before it is sent down" meaning the rain in the easiest way that is upon Him, glorified is He, "upon them." Then he emphasized the greatness of their lightness and their lack of ability by his saying: "Before it" meaning the joy, other than it, without any interval of time that could be claimed for them as a cause for the rain, "they were in despair" meaning silent about what is in their souls in confusion, despair, and disconnection. So they had no way to bring forth anything from that, nor did their deities have any capability for it independently or as a means.