His saying, exalted and majestic is He: "Or did they not recognize their Messenger, so they are in denial of him?" "Or do they say, 'He is possessed'? Rather, he has come to them with the truth, and most of them are averse to the truth." "And if the truth had followed their desires, the heavens and the earth and whoever is in them would have certainly been corrupted. Rather, We brought them their reminder, but they are turning away from their reminder."

This is also a reprimand, and the meaning is: Did they not recognize him as truthful throughout his lifetime, and they have never denied the knowledge of the face of Muhammad - blessings and peace be upon him - but rather they denied his truthfulness.

And His saying, exalted is He: "Or do they say, 'He is possessed'?" is also a reprimand, for the distinction between the wisdom and eloquence with which he came and that of the possessed is not hidden from one with sound nature. Then, He clarified his state - blessings and peace be upon him - in his coming with the truth.

And His saying, exalted is He: "And if the truth had followed their desires," Ibn Jurayj and Abu Salih said: "The truth" is Allah, exalted is He.

Qadi Abu Muhammad, may Allah have mercy on him, said: This is not of the type of the verse. Others said: The truth here is correctness and uprightness.

Qadi Abu Muhammad, may Allah have mercy on him, said: This is more appropriate, that what is mentioned is prior to that which Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah - blessings and peace be upon him - brought, and it is consistent with this that the corruption of the heavens and the earth and whoever is in them would occur if it were by the judgment of the desires of these people. This is because they have made partners and children for Allah, and if this were true, then Allah - blessed and exalted is He - would not have the sublime attributes. If He did not have them, then He would not have that creation or power, and that would be the corruption of the heavens and the earth and whoever is in them. And whoever says that "the truth" in the verse is Allah, exalted is He, has diverged in the word "followed" and it has become difficult for him to arrange the corruption mentioned in the verse; for the word "following" - in both cases - is merely a metaphor meaning that their desires are preserved by the truth and confirmed by it. So we find that Allah - exalted is He - has decreed the disbelief of nations and their desires, so there is no corruption of the heavens in that. As for the truth itself, which is correctness, if it were in accordance with their desires, everything would have been corrupted, so reflect on that.

And Ibn Wathab read: "And if the truth had followed" with a Dhamma on the waw. Abu al-Fath said: The Dhamma on this waw is rare, and the reason is to liken it to the waw of conjunction, as His saying, exalted is He: "They have purchased misguidance."

And His saying, exalted is He: "with their reminder" it is possible that He means: with their admonition and clarification to them, as Ibn Abbas - may Allah be pleased with them - said. And Qatadah read: "We remind them" with a Dhamma on the noon and a fathah on the dhal and a kasrah on the kaf, which is emphasized. It is also possible that He means: with their honor, and this is narrated. And Isa ibn Umar and Ibn Abi Ishaq read: "I brought them their reminder" with a Dhamma on the ta of the speaker. And Ibn Abi Ishaq also read: "Rather, I brought him" addressing Muhammad - blessings and peace be upon him. And the majority read: "Rather, We brought them their reminder," meaning we came to them, and it has been narrated from Abu Amr: "We gave them" with elongation, meaning we granted them.