His saying, exalted and majestic is He: "Did you not see that Allah has subjected to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth, and has bestowed upon you His blessings, both apparent and hidden? And among the people are those who argue about Allah without knowledge or guidance or an enlightening book." "And when it is said to them, 'Follow what Allah has revealed,' they say, 'Rather, we will follow what we found our forefathers upon.' Even if Satan is calling them to the punishment of the Blaze."

This is a verse of warning about the creation that indicates the Creator. That is because the subjugation of these great matters, such as the sun, the moon, the stars, the clouds, the winds, the animals, and the plants, is only by a subjugator and owner. Yahya ibn Imarah and Ibn Abbas read: "And He has bestowed" with a ص (sad) instead of a س (seen); because the letters of elevation attract the س (seen) from below to above, thus returning it to ص (sad). The majority read it with س (seen). Nafi, Abu Amr, Hafs from Asim, Al-Hasan, Al-A'raj, Abu Ja'far, Ibn Nisah, and others read: "His blessings," the plural of نعمة (ni'mah) like سدرة (sidrah) and سدر (sidr) with the د (dal) opened. And "the apparent" refers to health, good appearance, wealth, and other than that. And "the hidden" refers to the beliefs of faith and similar matters, and reason. Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said: The apparent is Islam and good appearance, and the hidden is what is concealed of bad deeds. And in the hadith: "It was said, O Messenger of Allah, we have known the apparent, so what is the hidden? He said: 'Concealment of what, if people saw you upon it, they would detest you.'"

The judge Abu Muhammad, may Allah have mercy on him, said: Among the hidden are breathing, digestion, and nourishment, and what cannot be counted in abundance. And among the apparent is the action of the limbs in obedience. Al-Muhasibi said: The apparent is the blessings of this world, and the hidden is the blessings of the Hereafter. The majority of people read: "Blessing" in the singular, so Mujahid said: The intended meaning is "There is no deity except Allah." And Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said: He intended Islam, and the apparent to me is that it is a name of a genus, as His saying, blessed and exalted is He: "And if you count the blessings of Allah, you will not be able to enumerate them."

Then he opposed the disbelievers of it regarding the corruption of their state, and they are referred to in His saying, exalted is He: "And among the people." And Al-Naqqash said: The reference is to Al-Nadr ibn Al-Harith and his peers; because they used to deny Allah and associate idols in divinity, so that is their argument. And "without knowledge" means: They have not been informed by one whose saying is accepted, nor do they have guidance of heart or light of insight by which they establish an argument, nor do they seek a book by the command of Allah that gives glad tidings that it is revelation. Rather, that is a claim from them and a fabrication. And when they are called to follow the revelation of Allah, they return to mere imitation without evidence, and they follow the way of their forefathers. Then Allah, exalted is He, paused - and they are the ones intended by the pause - at their following the religion of their forefathers. Is it possible for them to be like those who will end up in the punishment of the Blaze? So it is as if one of them says: They follow the religion of their forefathers even if their end is to the Blaze. Thus, the ألف (alif) of the pause entered upon the conjunction as was the coherence of the speech, so reflect upon it.