His saying, exalted and majestic is He: "So when their messengers came to them with clear proofs, they rejoiced in what they had of knowledge, and that which they used to ridicule surrounded them." "So when they saw Our punishment, they said, 'We have believed in Allah alone and we have disbelieved in what we used to associate with Him.'" "But their faith was of no benefit to them when they saw Our punishment. This is the law of Allah which has passed among His servants, and there the disbelievers lost."

The pronoun in "[came to them]" refers back to the mentioned nations, who were made an example and a lesson. The interpreters have differed regarding the pronoun in "they rejoiced"; to whom does it return? Mujahid and others said: It refers back to the mentioned nations, meaning: they rejoiced in what they had of knowledge in their assumption and belief that they would not be resurrected, nor held accountable. Ibn Zayd said: They were deceived by their knowledge in this world and their livelihoods, and they thought that there was no Hereafter, so they rejoiced. This is like His saying, exalted and majestic is He: "They know what is apparent of the worldly life" [Ar-Rum: 7]. And a group said: The pronoun in "they rejoiced" refers back to the messengers, and in this interpretation, there is an omission, and its estimation is: they denied them, so the messengers rejoiced in what they had of knowledge of Allah and trust in Him and that He would support them.

And "surrounded" means: descended and established, and it is used in evil. And "what" in His saying, exalted and majestic is He: "what they used to ridicule" is the punishment, which they used to deny and mock its matter, and the pronoun in "with them" refers back to the disbelievers without disagreement.

Then He narrated the state of some of them who believed after the punishment had befallen them, but that did not benefit them. In mentioning this, there is an encouragement for the Arabs to hasten, and a warning against procrastination, lest they be overtaken by a punishment for which repentance will not benefit them after it has befallen them. As for the story of the people of Yunus, peace be upon him, they saw the punishment and it had not yet befallen them, and its interpretation has been thoroughly discussed in Surah Yunus, peace be upon him. And "law" is in the accusative as a source, and "passed" means: it has gone and continued and has become a custom. And His saying, exalted and majestic is He: "there" refers to the times of punishment, meaning: their loss became apparent and the recompense for their disbelief was present.

The interpretation of Surah (Ghafir) is complete, and all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.