His saying - glorified and exalted is He -: "So who is more unjust than one who invents a lie against Allah or denies His signs? Those will receive their share of the Book until when Our messengers come to them to take them, they will say, 'Where are those you used to invoke besides Allah?' They will say, 'They have departed from us,' and they will testify against themselves that they were disbelievers." (p-558) This is a verse of warning and inquiry; in the sense of confirmation; meaning: no one is more unjust than him; and "invented"; its meaning is: created; and this - even though it is connected to what preceded it; meaning: "How do they make the messengers liars? And no one is more unjust than one who invents; and there is no share for the messengers except that he is shown mercy who is guided; and punished is he who disbelieves" - it also indicates, in meaning, to every liar; to whom has been previously mentioned of those who said: "And Allah commanded us with it" [Al-A'raf: 28]. And His saying, exalted is He: "or denies His signs"; is an indication to all disbelievers; and His saying, exalted is He: "of the Book"; Al-Hasan, Al-Suddi, and Abu Salih said: its meaning is: from what is decreed in the Preserved Tablet; for the Book is an expression of the Preserved Tablet; and it has been established in the Shari'ah that their share in it is punishment; and Al-Tabari said: His saying, exalted is He: "of the Book"; means: from the misery and happiness that has been written for him. Al-Qadi Abu Muhammad - may Allah have mercy on him - said: This saying is supported by the famous hadith which includes that the angel comes when the fetus is created in the womb; and writes its provision; and its term; and whether it is wretched or happy; and Ibn Abbas - may Allah be pleased with him and his father - also said; and Mujahid; and Qatadah; and Al-Dahhak: the Book refers to what the angels write of the deeds of creation; of good and evil; so these will receive their share of that; which is disbelief; and sins; and Ibn Abbas also said; and Mujahid; and Al-Dahhak: "of the Book"; means: "of the Qur'an"; and their share in it is that their faces will be darkened on the Day of Resurrection"; and Al-Rabi' ibn Anas; and Muhammad ibn Kab; and Ibn Zayd said: what is meant by the share is what has been decreed for them in the Mother of the Book; of provision; and lifespan; and good; and evil; in this world; and Al-Tabari preferred this; and supported it by His saying, exalted is He, thereafter: "until when Our messengers come to them"; meaning: "at the end of that"; so the meaning of the verse according to this interpretation is: "Those enjoy; and act from the world; according to what has been written for them; until when Our messengers come to them for their death..."; and this is the interpretation of a group regarding the coming of the messengers for taking the soul; and upon this is the preference of Al-Tabari which has preceded; and a group said: "Our messengers"; means: the angels of punishment on the Day of Resurrection; and "they take them"; its meaning is: "they take them in number; in driving them to Hell."

The judge Abu Muhammad - may Allah have mercy on him - said: This interpretation is related to the previous interpretations regarding His saying, the Exalted, "Their share of the Book"; because the share, according to those interpretations, is what they will receive in the Hereafter. And the coming of the messengers of death has been decreed. And His saying, the Exalted, narrating about the messengers: "Wherever you used to call upon"; is an interrogative for confirmation, and a rebuke, and a stopping at disgrace. This is an indication towards the idols, and the statues, and everything that was worshipped besides Allah, the Exalted. And "you used to call upon" means: "you worshipped; and you hoped for". And their saying: "They have gone astray" means: they perished; and they were lost; and they were destroyed. Then the news about the polytheists began with His saying - glorified and exalted is He -: "And they bore witness against themselves that they were disbelievers"; and this verse, and what is similar to it, apparently contradicts His saying, the Exalted, narrating about them: "By Allah, our Lord, we were not polytheists" [Al-An'am: 23]; and their coming together may either be in different groups, or at different times; they say in one situation this, and in another situation that.