And when their words did not contain anything other than one issue, He mentioned the answer by saying, "Those who were arrogant said" as a way of beginning, "to those who were oppressed," in response to them and in denial of their saying that they were the ones who prevented them: "Are we" specifically "the ones who prevented you" meaning we stopped you and diverted you "from guidance." And when they would not be held accountable for neglecting the evidence of reason before the coming of the messengers, they indicated this by saying, "After the messengers came to you."

And when the meaning was: indeed, we did not do that, it was appropriate to say: they are the ones who went astray by themselves, not by being led astray. So they said: "Rather, you were" meaning by nature and creation "criminals" meaning deeply rooted in severing what ought to be connected after the guidance came, choosing that just as you were before it, followers of us, neither did you turn back nor did we.