And when it is known that the listener says to the One whose knowledge encompasses them and knows their secrets and their public matters: O Lord! Rather, they have returned. It is answered by His saying: ﴿Rather﴾ meaning they have not returned, but they have continued for the sake of manifesting My power over hearts by involving their masters with their satisfaction and choice in the most disgraceful of calamities and the most grievous of sins, by abandoning the secure path and the straightest way, and they have deviated from it with a great deviation. They have continued in their misguidance and wandering, and I have not hastened them with punishment because I ﴿have granted them enjoyment﴾ by isolating their essence, glorified is He, because enjoyment entails prolonging the life which no one else can achieve, neither outwardly nor inwardly. As for vengeance, He may bring it about by the hands of His servants from among the angels and others. So it is from the valley of ﴿We will gradually lead them on from where they do not know﴾ [Al-Qalam: 44] ﴿And I give them respite; indeed, My plan is firm﴾ [Al-Qalam: 45] (p-418) ﴿These﴾ meaning those who are present with You from among the polytheists and the enemies of the religion ﴿and their fathers﴾. So I extended their lifespans along with the safety of their bodies and the strength of their limbs, and the abundance of blessings and the exemption from calamities and afflictions. My blessings made them arrogant, and the hands of My generosity and kindness made them disdainful. They persisted in their adherence to that falsehood ﴿until the truth came to them﴾ with this firm religion ﴿and a clear Messenger﴾ meaning his matter is evident in itself. Even if there were no clear signs in it, it would be self-evident, informing you of the news. And with its manifestation in itself, it is a manifestation of every meaning that is needed. And ﴿I granted them enjoyment﴾ with the address from the tongue of the Messenger who was sent down with this Book, because he calls for seizing the opportunity, perhaps he will be answered with what removes the anguish. He says: O Lord! You have established them for one who is ignorant of the consequences in the position of one whose return is hoped for, so what You have decreed in that is not but that You have granted enjoyment until its end.