And it is recited: "He is waiting for the calamity of death to befall him," in the passive form. And the calamity of death is what disturbs the souls and astonishes them from the events of time. It was said: "Am I to grieve over the calamity of death?" [["Am I to grieve over the calamity of death ... and time does not hold accountable one who grieves."]] This is from Abu Dhuwaiyb's elegy for his sons, and the question is for denial. And the calamity of death is what disturbs the souls and astonishes them from the events of time.

And the calamity refers to death, like "the appointed time," because it is predetermined; it is from "muna" when it is decreed. And his saying, "and time ... etc.," is a present tense clause. It is said: "He accepted it," if he accepted the reprimand and removed his complaint. Thus, he likened time to a wrongdoer in a metaphorical manner, and attributing the reprimand is imaginative. And "grief" is intense sadness.

It is said: The calamity refers to death, and it is originally a form of "fa'ool," from "mana" when it cuts off, because death is a cutting off, and for this reason, they are called nations. They said: "We await calamities of time to destroy him as those before him perished, like Zuhayr and the Nabighah, among those who are waiting. Do I wait for your destruction as you wait for my destruction?" Their dreams are their minds and intellects.

And from this is their saying: "The dreams of 'Aad." The meaning is: Do their dreams command them with this contradiction in speech, which is their saying: "A soothsayer and a poet," along with their saying: "He is mad." And the Quraysh used to call those of intellect and reason.

Or are they a people transgressing, exceeding the limits in stubbornness while the truth is apparent to them? If you say: What is the meaning of dreams being commanding? I say: It is a metaphor for their leading to that, as His saying: "Does your prayer command you to leave what our forefathers worshipped?" And it is recited: "But they are a people transgressing."

"He fabricated it from himself" means he invented it from his own accord. "But they do not believe" means: due to their disbelief and stubbornness, they throw these accusations, while they know the falseness of their words, and that he is not a fabricator, for the Arabs are incapable of it, and Muhammad is but one of the Arabs. And it is recited with a similar saying in the addition, and the pronoun refers to the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him. Its meaning is: The like of Muhammad in eloquence is not lacking among the Arabs. If Muhammad could compose it, then his like could do so; so let them bring a saying like it.

Or were they created from nothing without any predetermined measure? Or are they the ones who created themselves, where they do not worship the Creator? "But they do not have certainty" means: If they were asked, "Who created you and created the heavens and the earth?" They would say: "Allah," while they are doubtful in what they say, not certain. And it was said: Were they created for no reason, without reward or reckoning? And it was said: Were they created without a father and mother?

Or do they have the treasures of provision so that they grant prophethood to whomever they wish? Or do they have the treasures of His knowledge so that they choose for it from His wisdom and benefit? Or are they the dominant gods, so they manage the affairs of divinity and establish matters according to their will and desire? And it is recited: "the dominant ones" with a 'sad.

Or do they have a ladder set up to the heavens, listening as they ascend to the speech of the angels and what is revealed to them from the knowledge of the unseen, so they know what is to come of their destruction before their destruction and their victory in the outcome before them, as they claim? "With a clear authority" means with a clear proof that confirms the listening of their listener.

The burden means that a person commits to what is not upon him, meaning: a heavy burden has been imposed upon them, which has made them reluctant [[The saying "which has made them reluctant" means: it has burdened them and made them heavy. This was clarified in the dictionaries. (A)]] to follow you? Or do they have the unseen, meaning the preserved tablet, so they write what is in it until they say: "We will not be resurrected. And if we are resurrected, we will not be punished" [[The saying "and if we are resurrected, we will not be punished" may mean: we will not be punished. (A)]]? Or do they intend a plot, which is their plotting in the House of Al-Nadwa against the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, and against the believers? "So those who disbelieved" refers to them or is intended for everyone who disbelieves in Allah. "They are the ones who are plotted against" means they are the ones who will face the consequences of their plotting, and their deception will surround them. This is because they were killed on the Day of Badr. Or they are the defeated ones in plotting, from "I plotted against him, so I defeated him."