And let them say, its response is omitted, its estimation is: and let them say, I studied its variations. The meaning of 'studied' is that I read and learned. And it was recited: 'I debated', meaning I debated with the scholars. And 'studied' means I presented these verses and they were forgotten, as they said: 'Legends of the ancients.' And 'studied' with a pronounced 'ra' is an exaggeration of 'studied', meaning its forgetting intensified. And 'studied' - in the passive form - means it was read or it was forgotten. And 'debated'. They interpreted it as having debated with the Jews about Muhammad, blessings and peace be upon him. The omission is permissible because the fame of studying was with the Jews among them. It may be that the action is for the verses, which are for their people, meaning the people of the verses debated with Muhammad, and they are the people of the Book. And 'studied' means Muhammad studied. And 'debated', meaning they are debated, meaning they are ancient. Or they are of lessons, like a contented life. If you say: what is the difference between the two 'lam's in 'let them say' and 'let us clarify'? I say: the difference between them is that the first is metaphorical and the second is literal. This is because the verses were directed for clarification and were not directed to say they studied, but because this saying occurred due to the direction of the verses as the clarification occurred, it was likened to it and thus was placed in its context. And it was said: let them say as it was said to clarify it. If you say: to whom does the pronoun in 'and let us clarify it' refer? I say: to the verses because it is in the meaning of the Qur'an, as if it were said: and thus we direct the Qur'an. Or to the Qur'an even if it was not mentioned, due to it being known to the clarification which is the source of the action, like their saying: I hit him, Zaid. And it is permissible that it is intended for whoever recited 'studied' and 'debated': I studied the Book and its study, referring back to the estimated Book.