The Quraysh said: Allah is greater than to have His Messenger be a human. It was said: And We did not send before you except men to whom We revealed, by the tongues of angels. So ask the People of the Reminder, and they are the People of the Book, to inform you that Allah did not send to the previous nations except as humans. If you say: What does His saying relate to regarding the clear signs? I say: It has various connections. It may relate to what We sent, falling under the rule of exception with 'men', meaning: And We sent only men with clear signs, like your saying: I did not strike except Zayd with the whip, because its origin is: I struck Zayd with the whip. Or it may relate to 'men' as an attribute, meaning: men adorned with clear signs. Or it may relate to 'We sent' implied, as if it were said: With what were they sent? You say: With clear signs, so it is in two statements, and the first is in one statement. Or it may relate to 'revealed', meaning: revealed to them with clear signs. Or it may relate to 'you do not know', on the condition that it means reproach and obligation, like the hired worker saying: If I worked for you, then give me my right. And His saying: So ask the People of the Reminder is an interruption to the previous arguments. The People of the Reminder are the People of the Book. The Book is called the Reminder because it is a lesson and a warning for the heedless regarding what was revealed to them, meaning what Allah revealed to them in the Reminder of what they were commanded and prohibited, and what they were promised and warned about, and perhaps they will reflect and intend to listen to its reminders so that they may become aware and contemplate.