And when He described them with hypocrisy, He confirmed it by their not hastening to repentance, which is the action of the believers. He also confirmed it by their indulging in denial, while the one who questioned them was someone who had reached the utmost in majesty, dignity, and perfection. He said: ﴿And if you ask them﴾ meaning: and you are someone who must be believed by the one questioned regarding what the surah has revealed of what they have shown among themselves of disbelief. This was when some of them said: 'Look at this man, he thinks he will conquer the palaces of Sham and its fortresses! Impossible! Impossible!' So Allah informed him and said: 'Hold the caravan for me.' Then he asked them ﴿They will surely say﴾ meaning: we did not say anything of that, rather ﴿We were merely engaging﴾ meaning: we were talking without any order ﴿and playing﴾ meaning: with what there is no harm upon us in it, and it carries the burden of the journey for us. It is as if it was said: So what will be said to them if they swear to that as is customary? He said: ﴿Say﴾ meaning: to them, affirming their mockery, warning them, turning away from what they have apologized for, informing that he is not worthy of being heard, making it as if they are acknowledging their mockery, where the mocked one follows the word of affirmation. This is only correct after the occurrence of mockery and its establishment, disproving them in their saying: 'Indeed, you are an ear,' in the meaning they intended, and clarifying what is in your showing to affirm them from being gentle with them. ﴿Is it about Allah﴾ meaning: He is the One who encompasses the attributes of perfection ﴿and His signs﴾ meaning: which cannot be altered nor hidden from one with sight or insight ﴿and His Messenger﴾ meaning: whose greatness is from His greatness, and he is striving in your reform and honoring you and elevating you ﴿You were﴾ meaning: always ﴿mocking﴾.