In themselves, it is possible that it is an adverbial phrase, as if it were said: Did they not begin to reflect in themselves? That is: in their hearts that are empty of thought. Reflection can only occur in the hearts, but it is an additional depiction of the state of the reflectors, like saying: Believe it in your heart and conceal it in your soul. It could also be a connection to reflection, like saying: Reflect on the matter and let your thought roam within it. And what He created is related to the omitted saying, meaning: Did they not reflect to say this saying? It was said: Its meaning is to know, because in the speech there is evidence for it. Except by the truth and for a specified term, meaning He did not create them in vain and without purpose and wisdom, nor for them to remain eternal. Rather, He created them coupled with the truth and accompanied by wisdom, and with the determination of a specified term to which they must come to an end, which is the Day of Resurrection and the time of reckoning, reward, and punishment. Do you not see His saying, 'Did you think that We created you in vain and that you would not be returned to Us?' How He named their abandonment of returning to Him as vanity. The 'by' in His saying, 'Except by the truth,' is like in your saying: I entered upon him in travel clothes, and he bought the horse with its saddle and bridle, meaning: He bought it while it was still in the saddle and bridle, not separated from them. Likewise, the meaning is that He did not create it except while it is coupled with the truth. If you say: If you make 'in themselves' a connection to reflection, what does it mean? I say: Its meaning is: Did they not reflect in themselves, which are closer to them than any other of the creations? They are more knowledgeable and informed about their conditions than they are about the conditions of others. So they should contemplate what Allah has deposited in them, both outwardly and inwardly, of the strange wisdoms that indicate management rather than neglect, and that they must come to an end at a time when the one who managed their affairs will reward them for good with goodness and for evil with its like. Until they know at that time that all of creation is likewise governed by wisdom and management, and that it must come to that time, and the intended meeting with their Lord is the specified term.