The Exegesis of the Saying of Allah the Exalted: “And those before them denied [the truth], and they did not reach a tenth of what We gave them, yet they denied Our messengers. So how was My reproof [when I punished them]?”

Allah the Exalted said: meaning that these means a tenth of the strength, longevity, and abundance of wealth. This contains consolation for the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and a warning to the deniers. It has two meanings: consolation and warning. Like whom? ‘Ad, Thamud, Pharaoh, and the people of the grove, and many others. These previous deniers were stronger than these, and had more wealth and children. Allah the Exalted said: [Ghafir:82] and more wealth and children. The verses in this regard indicate that those who denied the previous messengers were greater than those who denied the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) in physical strength, abundance of wealth, and abundance of sons. Did that benefit them in any way? No, it did not benefit them in any way. For this reason, Allah the Exalted said: to them My reproof against them through punishment and destruction. This means that these previous people denied the messengers of Allah, so what happened? Allah’s (Glorified and Exalted is He) reproof came upon them through torment and destruction. Allah did not approve of their denial; rather, He reproved them. Was it by action or by speech? By action. He destroyed them and annihilated them. Thus, the interrogative in His saying: is for magnification and glorification, meaning: How great is My reproof against them, for it was a reproof that led them to destruction. As for the grammatical analysis of , Brother Yasser will handle it. For this reason, the author said: “That it is in their position”.