And he was astonished by them in their assumption that he feared their deities by saying, denying: "And how should I fear what you have associated?" That is: from other than Allah, from the idols and others, while they are not able to do anything. "And you do not fear that you have associated with Allah"; that is: the One who possesses the attributes of greatness and the power to punish and take retribution.

And since it is for Him - glorified and exalted is He - to do as He wills, He said: "What He has not sent down with it"; that is: with His associating. And since the situation is difficult because it is the foundation of the religion, He established the genitive and advanced it, saying: "Upon you is a proof"; that is: a proof that will prevent the descent of His anger upon you. The reality is that he - peace be upon him - established security in its place, while they placed it in a place of fear. Thus, he was astonished by them for that reason. It became clear that this and the saying of Shu'ayb - peace be upon him - in Al-A'raf: "And it is not for us to return to it except that Allah, our Lord, wills" [Al-A'raf: 89] is the verse, and His saying - exalted is He - in Al-Kahf: "And do not say of anything, 'Indeed, I will do that tomorrow,' except that Allah wills" [Al-Kahf: 23] [Al-Kahf: 24] is from one source. And since the feared negation here is merely the fear of harm from their deities, and the occurrence of harm to their opposers is through their followers or others from the established laws of Allah among His servants, the friend - peace be upon him - limited himself to the attribute of Lordship that necessitates compassion, mercy, sufficiency, and protection. And in his story, both matters occurred: their ability to cause him harm by igniting the fire and throwing him into it, and his mercy by making it coolness and safety for him. And since the feared matter in the story of Shu'ayb - peace be upon him - is returning to their religion, he increased the mention of the greatest name that encompasses all perfections and is free from all deficiencies, which necessitates the presence of majesty, greatness, uniqueness, and pride that prevents approaching the realms of disbelief. And Allah is the Granter of success.

And when it became clear as the sun with the evidence he established that he is more deserving of security than them, he said, causing what has passed to be confirmed for them: "So which of the two parties"; that is: the party of Allah and the party of what you have associated with Him. And he did not say: "Which of us," to generalize the meaning: "is more deserving of security" and obliged them to answer with certainty by saying: "If you know"; that is: if you have knowledge, then inform me about what I have asked you about.