And the traces of their palaces and their factories. It was said: Their walking with their feet due to their massive bodies. So what did their wealth avail them? This is negating or implying the meaning of a question, and its place is in the accusative. The second is either relative or gerundive, and its place is in the nominative. It means: What has availed them of their earnings or their gains? They rejoiced in what they had of knowledge. There are several aspects to this: One is that he intended the knowledge that came in a mocking manner in His saying: 'Rather, their knowledge has encompassed them in the Hereafter.' And their knowledge in the Hereafter was that they used to say: 'We will not be resurrected nor punished,' and 'I do not think the Hour will come,' and 'If I were to return to my Lord, surely I would find with Him the best.' And they used to rejoice in that and use it to refute the clear signs and the knowledge of the prophets, as Allah, the Exalted, said: 'Every party rejoices in what they have.' Another aspect is that he meant the knowledge of the philosophers and the materialists from the Greeks, who, when they heard of the revelation from Allah, rejected it and belittled the knowledge of the prophets compared to their own. It is reported about Socrates that he heard about Moses, blessings and peace be upon him, and was asked: 'If you were to migrate to him?' He replied: 'We are a refined people, so we have no need for someone to refine us.' Another aspect is that his saying 'They rejoiced in what they had of knowledge' is placed in the context of 'They rejoice in what has come to them of knowledge,' emphasizing the negation of their joy in the revelation that necessitates the utmost joy and happiness, while mocking their extreme ignorance and lack of scholars. Another aspect is that it is meant: They rejoiced in what the messengers had of knowledge, rejoicing in mockery and derision, as if he said: They mocked the clear signs and what they brought from the knowledge of revelation, rejoicing and merry. This is supported by His saying: 'And what was surrounding them of what they used to mock engulfed them.' Another aspect is to attribute the joy to the messengers. Its meaning is that when the messengers saw their persistent ignorance and mockery of the truth, and they knew the bad outcome that would befall them from punishment due to their ignorance and mockery: They rejoiced in what they were given of knowledge and thanked Allah for it, and the punishment for the disbelievers encompassed them due to their ignorance and mockery. It may also be intended by what they rejoiced in from knowledge: Their knowledge of worldly matters and their understanding of its management, as Allah, the Exalted, said: 'They know the outward of this worldly life, but they are heedless of the Hereafter.' This is the extent of their knowledge. So when the messengers came to them with the knowledge of religions - which is the furthest thing from their knowledge as it urges abandonment of the world and the pleasures - they did not pay attention to it, belittled it, and mocked it, believing that there is no knowledge more beneficial and advantageous than their own knowledge, so they rejoiced in it.