The polytheists used to gather around the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, in circles and groups. They listened and mocked his words. They said: If these enter Paradise as Muhammad says, then we will surely enter it before them. Then it was revealed: 'Muhth'in, hastening towards you, stretching their necks to you, looking at you in groups.' 'Azin, various groups, gathered from 'izzah. Its root is 'uzwah, as if each group claims lineage to someone other than what the other group claims. They are divided. Al-Kumayt said: 'And we, along with the Jundal, have left... various battalions of Jundal, we have claimed lineage.' [Al-Kumayt. And the battalions: the plural of katibah, which is a group. And shatta: the plural of shatteet, like marid and marid, and 'azin: the plural of 'izzah, its root is 'azw, thus the ta is substituted for the waw, from 'azah to something, meaning: he attributed it to him, because some of them claim lineage to each other. Or because they attribute themselves to their leader. Or to their highest origin, and this is a metaphor for killing him with the multitude of his army.]

It is said that there were five mockers, and nothing deterred them from their desire to enter Paradise. Then it was explained by saying: 'Indeed, We created them from that which they know' until the end of the surah. This is a statement indicating their denial of resurrection. It is as if he said: No, they deny resurrection and recompense, so how do they hope to enter Paradise? If you say: From what aspect does this statement indicate the denial of resurrection? I say: From the fact that it is an argument against them regarding the first creation, just as it is argued against them in several places in the revelation. That is His saying: 'We created them from that which they know,' meaning from the drops of semen, and by the power to destroy them and replace them with a people better than them. And He is not preceded in what He intends to create; nothing can hinder Him. The aim is that whoever is capable of that is not incapable of resurrection. It may also be intended: 'Indeed, We created them from that which they know,' meaning from the despised drop, which is their origin that is lower than any other origin.

And that is why it is vague and concealed: indicating that it is an origin that one feels shy to mention. So how do they claim honor and assert precedence and say: 'We will enter Paradise before them'? It is said: Its meaning is that We created them from a drop just as We created all the children of Adam. And from Our decree is that no one among them enters Paradise except by faith and righteous deeds. So, one who has no faith and deeds should not hope to enter it. And it was recited: 'By the Lord of the East and the West.' And they will emerge, and they will emerge. And from the graves, hastening, with both the clear and the merged. And 'nasab' and 'nasab': everything that is erected and worshiped besides Allah, they hasten to the caller, competing as they used to compete to their idols.

From the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him: 'Whoever recites the surah 'Saal Sa'il', Allah will grant him the reward of those who are mindful of their trusts and their covenants.' [Narrated by Al-Thalabi, Al-Rahwi, and Ibn Mardawayh with their chain to Abu Ibn Kab.]