And when he mentioned what threatened them with severe punishment, he followed it with destruction and said: ﴿So when they were arrogant﴾ meaning: they became haughty and stubborn in refusing to stop ﴿from what they were forbidden﴾ meaning: after being seized by the severe punishment. They exceeded to the point of committing all sins out of defiance and arrogance with utmost shamelessness and lack of concern. Their committing that sin and their delay despite the admonition caused them to become hardened, and their hearts became thick against the fear of the threat of punishment. From 'ata ya'tu 'atuwwan - when he approaches sins, he is 'at'. Abdul Haqq said in his writing of the aware: It is said: when he engages in all his affairs, and from this verse. It is said: the 'at' is the one who exceeds in committing sins, and it is said: the rebellious one who is not benefited by admonition and warning. From His saying, glorified and exalted is He: ﴿So they were arrogant against the command of their Lord﴾ [Adh-Dhariyat: 44] meaning: they exceeded the measure and limit in disbelief - it has ended.

And its reality is: they exceeded the command to the prohibition, or they exceeded the compliance with His command. The root refers to hardness, severity, and rigidity. ﴿We said to them﴾ meaning: with what we have of great power ﴿Be apes﴾ meaning: in the form of apes while you are ﴿humiliated﴾ meaning: belittled, cast out (p-141) far from mercy as the dog is kept away.