۞ وَلَوۡ يُعَجِّلُ ٱللَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ ٱلشَّرَّ ٱسۡتِعۡجَالَهُم بِٱلۡخَيۡرِ لَقُضِىَ إِلَيۡہِمۡ أَجَلُهُمۡۖ فَنَذَرُ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَرۡجُونَ لِقَآءَنَا فِى طُغۡيَـٰنِہِمۡ يَعۡمَهُونَ
And if Allah was to hasten for the people the evil [they invoke] as He hastens for them the good, their term would have been ended for them. But We leave the ones who do not expect the meeting with Us, in their transgression, wandering blindly.
In these two Ayat, Allah promises the happy blessings for those who believed in Allah and His Messengers. And for those that have complied with what they were commanded to follow. The promise is that He will guide them because of their faith, or it may mean through their faith. As to the first interpretation, the meaning is that Allah will guide them on the Day of Resurrection to the straight path until they pass into Paradise because of their faith in this world. The other meaning is that their faith will assist them on the Day of Resurrection as Mujahid said:
(Their Lord will guide them through their faith) meaning "Their faith will be a light in which they will walk.''
(Their way of request therein will be: "Glory to You, O Allah!'' And Salam (peace, safety from evil) will be their greetings therein! And the close of their request will be: "All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all that exists.'') meaning this is the condition of the people of Paradise. This is similar to what is found in the following Ayat:
(Their greeting on the Day they shall meet Him will be "Salam )Peace(!'') (33:44),
(No Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk) will they hear therein, nor any sinful speech. But only the saying of: Salam! Salam!!'') (56:25-26),
((It will be said to them): "Salam'' -- a Word from the Lord, Most Merciful.) (36:58),
(And angels shall enter unto them from every gate (saying): "Salamun `Alaykum (peace be upon you)!'') (13:23-24) In Allah's statement,
(And the close of their request will be: All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all that exists.'') There is an indication that Allah Almighty is the Praised One always, the Worshipped at all times. This is why He praised Himself at the beginning and the duration of His creation. He also praised Himself in the beginning of His Book and the beginning of its revelation. Allah said:
(All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has sent down to His servant the Book (the Qur'an).) (18:1),
(All praise is due to Allah, Who (alone) created the heavens and the earth,) (6:1), and many other citations with this meaning. The Ayah also indicates that Allah is the Praised One in this world and in the Hereafter and in all situations. In a Hadith recorded by Muslim:
(The people of Paradise will be inspired to glorify Allah and praise Him as they instinctively breath.) This will be their nature because of the increasing bounties of Allah upon them. These bounties are repeated and brought back again and increased with no limit or termination. So praise be to Allah for there is no God but He and no Lord save He.
(11. And were Allah to hasten for mankind the evil as He hastens for them the good then they would have been ruined. So We leave those who expect not their meeting with Us, in their trespasses, wandering blindly in distraction.)
وَإِذَا مَسَّ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ ٱلضُّرُّ دَعَانَا لِجَنۢبِهِۦۤ أَوۡ قَاعِدًا أَوۡ قَآٮِٕمً۬ا فَلَمَّا كَشَفۡنَا عَنۡهُ ضُرَّهُ ۥ مَرَّ ڪَأَن لَّمۡ يَدۡعُنَآ إِلَىٰ ضُرٍّ۬ مَّسَّهُ ۥۚ كَذَٲلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِلۡمُسۡرِفِينَ مَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ
And when affliction touches man, he calls upon Us, whether lying on his side or sitting or standing; but when We remove from him his affliction, he continues [in disobedience] as if he had never called upon Us to [remove] an affliction that touched him. Thus is made pleasing to the transgressors that which they have been doing.
Allah tells us about His Forbearance and Benevolence with His servants. He does not respond to them when they pray with evil intentions against themselves, their wealth or their children during times of grief or anger. He knows that they do not truly intend evil for themselves so He doesn't respond to them. This is in reality kindness and mercy. On the other hand, He responds to them when they pray for themselves, wealth and money, with good, blessing and growth. Allah has said,
(And were Allah to hasten for mankind the evil as He hastens for them the good then they would have been ruined.) This means that if He had responded to all of their evil requests, He would have destroyed them. However, people should avoid praying for evil as much as they can. Abu Bakr Al-Bazzar recorded in his Musnad that Jabir said, "Allah's Messenger said:
(Do not pray against yourselves, do not pray against your children, do not pray against your wealth, for your prayer may coincide with a time of response from Allah and Allah will respond to you.) This Hadith was also recorded by Abu Dawud. This is similar to what is understood from the following Ayah:
(And man invokes (Allah) for evil as he invokes (Allah) for good.) (17:11) In regard to the interpretation of this Ayah,
(And were Allah to hasten for mankind the evil as He hastens for them the good) Mujahid said: "It is the man saying to his son or money when he is angry, `O Allah don't bless him (or it) and curse him (or it).' Should Allah respond to this man in this request as He responds to him with good, He would destroy them.''
(12. And when harm touches man, he invokes Us, lying on his side, or sitting or standing. But when We have removed his harm from him, he passes on as if he had never invoked Us for a harm that touched him! Thus it is made fair seeming to the wasteful that which they used to do.)
وَلَقَدۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَا ٱلۡقُرُونَ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۡ لَمَّا ظَلَمُواْۙ وَجَآءَتۡہُمۡ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَمَا كَانُواْ لِيُؤۡمِنُواْۚ كَذَٲلِكَ نَجۡزِى ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ
And We had already destroyed generations before you when they wronged, and their messengers had come to them with clear proofs, but they were not to believe. Thus do We recompense the criminal people.
Allah tells us about man and how he becomes annoyed and worried when he is touched with distress.
(but when evil touches him, then he has recourse to long supplications.) (41:51) `Long supplications' also means many supplications. When man suffers adversity he becomes worried and anxious. So he supplicates more. He prays to Allah to lift and remove the adversity. He prays while standing, sitting or laying down. When Allah removes his adversity and lifts his distress, he turns away and becomes arrogant. He goes on as if nothing were wrong with him before.
(He passes on as if he had never invoked Us for a harm that touched him!) Allah then criticized and condemned those who have these qualities or act this way, so He said:
(Thus it is made fair seeming to the wasteful that which they used to do.) But those on whom Allah has bestowed good guidance and support are an exception.
(Except those who have patience believe and do righteous good deeds.) (11:11) The Prophet said:
(How wonderful is the case of a believer; there is good for him in everything and this is not the case with anyone except a believer. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allah, and that is good for him. And if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and that is also good for him.)
(13. And indeed, We destroyed generations before you when they did wrong, while their Messengers came to them with clear proofs, but they were not such as to believe! Thus do We requite the people who are criminals.) (14. Then We made you successors after them, generations after generations in the land, that We might see how you would work.)
ثُمَّ جَعَلۡنَـٰكُمۡ خَلَـٰٓٮِٕفَ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡ لِنَنظُرَ كَيۡفَ تَعۡمَلُونَ
Then We made you successors in the land after them so that We may observe how you will do.
Allah tells us about man and how he becomes annoyed and worried when he is touched with distress.
(but when evil touches him, then he has recourse to long supplications.) (41:51) `Long supplications' also means many supplications. When man suffers adversity he becomes worried and anxious. So he supplicates more. He prays to Allah to lift and remove the adversity. He prays while standing, sitting or laying down. When Allah removes his adversity and lifts his distress, he turns away and becomes arrogant. He goes on as if nothing were wrong with him before.
(He passes on as if he had never invoked Us for a harm that touched him!) Allah then criticized and condemned those who have these qualities or act this way, so He said:
(Thus it is made fair seeming to the wasteful that which they used to do.) But those on whom Allah has bestowed good guidance and support are an exception.
(Except those who have patience believe and do righteous good deeds.) (11:11) The Prophet said:
(How wonderful is the case of a believer; there is good for him in everything and this is not the case with anyone except a believer. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allah, and that is good for him. And if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and that is also good for him.)
(13. And indeed, We destroyed generations before you when they did wrong, while their Messengers came to them with clear proofs, but they were not such as to believe! Thus do We requite the people who are criminals.) (14. Then We made you successors after them, generations after generations in the land, that We might see how you would work.)
وَإِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ءَايَاتُنَا بَيِّنَـٰتٍ۬ۙ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَرۡجُونَ لِقَآءَنَا ٱئۡتِ بِقُرۡءَانٍ غَيۡرِ هَـٰذَآ أَوۡ بَدِّلۡهُۚ قُلۡ مَا يَكُونُ لِىٓ أَنۡ أُبَدِّلَهُ ۥ مِن تِلۡقَآىِٕ نَفۡسِىٓۖ إِنۡ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّۖ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ إِنۡ عَصَيۡتُ رَبِّى عَذَابَ يَوۡمٍ عَظِيمٍ۬
And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, those who do not expect the meeting with Us say, "Bring us a Qur’an other than this or change it." Say, [O Muhammad], "It is not for me to change it on my own accord. I only follow what is revealed to me. Indeed I fear, if I should disobey my Lord, the punishment of a tremendous Day."
Allah tells us about what happened to past generations when they belied the Messengers and the clear signs and proofs the latter brought to them. Allah then made this nation successors after them. He sent to them a Messenger to test their obedience to Him and following His Messenger. Muslim recorded that Abu Nadrah reported from Abu Sa`id that he said: "Allah's Messenger said:
(The world is indeed sweet and green; and verily Allah is going to install you generations after generations in it in order to see how you act. So safeguard yourselves against the world and avoid (the trial caused by) women. For the first trial of the Children of Israel was due to women…) Ibn Jarir reported from `Abdur-Rahman from Ibn Abi Layla that `Awf bin Malik said to Abu Bakr: "In a dream, I saw a rope hanging from the sky and Allah's Messenger was being raised. The rope was suspended again and Abu Bakr was raised. Then people were given different measurements around the Minbar, and `Umar was favored with three forearm measurements.'' `Umar said: "Keep your dream away from us, we have no need for it.'' When `Umar succeeded, he called for `Awf and said to him, "Tell me about your dream'' `Awf said: "Do you need to hear about my dream now Did you not scold me before'' He then said, "Woe unto you! I hated for you to announce it to the successor of Allah's Messenger himself.'' So `Awf related his dream until he got to the three forearms, he said: "One that he was Khalifah, second he did not -- for the sake of Allah -- fear the blame of blamers, and third he was a martyr.'' Allah said:
(Then We made you successors after them, generations after generations in the land, that We might see how you would work.)(10:14) Then he said: "Son of the mother of `Umar, you have been appointed as Khalifah, so look at what you will do! About not fearing the blame of blamers, that is Allah's will. About becoming a martyr, how can `Umar reach that when the Muslims are in support of him''
(15. And when Our clear Ayat are recited unto them, those who hope not for their meeting with Us, say: "Bring us a Qur'an other than this, or change it.'' Say: "It is not for me to change it on my own accord; I only follow that which is revealed unto me. Verily, I fear the torment of the Great Day (the Day of Resurrection) if I were to disobey my Lord.'') (16. Say: "If Allah had so willed, I should not have recited it to you nor would He have made it known to you. Verily, I have stayed among you a lifetime before this. Have you then no sense'')
قُل لَّوۡ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا تَلَوۡتُهُ ۥ عَلَيۡڪُمۡ وَلَآ أَدۡرَٮٰكُم بِهِۦۖ فَقَدۡ لَبِثۡتُ فِيڪُمۡ عُمُرً۬ا مِّن قَبۡلِهِۦۤۚ أَفَلَا تَعۡقِلُونَ
Say, "If Allah had willed, I would not have recited it to you, nor would He have made it known to you, for I had remained among you a lifetime before it. Then will you not reason?”
Allah tells us about what happened to past generations when they belied the Messengers and the clear signs and proofs the latter brought to them. Allah then made this nation successors after them. He sent to them a Messenger to test their obedience to Him and following His Messenger. Muslim recorded that Abu Nadrah reported from Abu Sa`id that he said: "Allah's Messenger said:
(The world is indeed sweet and green; and verily Allah is going to install you generations after generations in it in order to see how you act. So safeguard yourselves against the world and avoid (the trial caused by) women. For the first trial of the Children of Israel was due to women…) Ibn Jarir reported from `Abdur-Rahman from Ibn Abi Layla that `Awf bin Malik said to Abu Bakr: "In a dream, I saw a rope hanging from the sky and Allah's Messenger was being raised. The rope was suspended again and Abu Bakr was raised. Then people were given different measurements around the Minbar, and `Umar was favored with three forearm measurements.'' `Umar said: "Keep your dream away from us, we have no need for it.'' When `Umar succeeded, he called for `Awf and said to him, "Tell me about your dream'' `Awf said: "Do you need to hear about my dream now Did you not scold me before'' He then said, "Woe unto you! I hated for you to announce it to the successor of Allah's Messenger himself.'' So `Awf related his dream until he got to the three forearms, he said: "One that he was Khalifah, second he did not -- for the sake of Allah -- fear the blame of blamers, and third he was a martyr.'' Allah said:
(Then We made you successors after them, generations after generations in the land, that We might see how you would work.)(10:14) Then he said: "Son of the mother of `Umar, you have been appointed as Khalifah, so look at what you will do! About not fearing the blame of blamers, that is Allah's will. About becoming a martyr, how can `Umar reach that when the Muslims are in support of him''
(15. And when Our clear Ayat are recited unto them, those who hope not for their meeting with Us, say: "Bring us a Qur'an other than this, or change it.'' Say: "It is not for me to change it on my own accord; I only follow that which is revealed unto me. Verily, I fear the torment of the Great Day (the Day of Resurrection) if I were to disobey my Lord.'') (16. Say: "If Allah had so willed, I should not have recited it to you nor would He have made it known to you. Verily, I have stayed among you a lifetime before this. Have you then no sense'')
فَمَنۡ أَظۡلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفۡتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ڪَذِبًا أَوۡ كَذَّبَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِهِۦۤۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ لَا يُفۡلِحُ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمُونَ
So who is more unjust than he who invents a lie about Allah or denies His signs? Indeed, the criminals will not succeed.
(Say: "If Allah had so willed, I should not have recited it to you nor would He have made it known to you...'') This indicates that he brought this only with the permission and will of Allah for him to do so. The proof of this was that he had not fabricated it himself and that they were incapable of refuting it, and that they should be fully aware of his truthfulness and honesty since he grew up among them, until Allah sent the Message to him. The Prophet was never criticized for anything or held in contempt. So he said,
(Verily, I have stayed among you a lifetime before this. Have you then no sense) Which meant "don't you have brains with which you may distinguish the truth from falsehood'' When Heraclius, the Roman king, asked Abu Sufyan and those who were in his company about the Prophet, he said: "Have you ever accused him of telling lies before his claim'' Abu Sufyan replied: "No.'' Abu Sufyan was then the head of the disbelievers and the leader of the idolaters, but he still admitted the truth. This is a clear and irrefutable testimony since it came from the enemy. Heraclius then said: "I wondered how a person who does not tell a lie about others could ever tell a lie about Allah.'' Ja`far bin Abu Talib said to An-Najashi, the king of Ethiopia: "Allah has sent to us a Messenger that we know his truthfulness, ancestral lineage, and honesty. He stayed among us before the prophethood for forty years.''
(17. So who does more wrong than he who forges a lie against Allah or denies His Ayat Surely, the criminals will never be successful!)
وَيَعۡبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَضُرُّهُمۡ وَلَا يَنفَعُهُمۡ وَيَقُولُونَ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ شُفَعَـٰٓؤُنَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِۚ قُلۡ أَتُنَبِّـُٔونَ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا لَا يَعۡلَمُ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَلَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ سُبۡحَـٰنَهُ ۥ وَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشۡرِكُونَ
And they worship other than Allah that which neither harms them nor benefits them, and they say, "These are our intercessors with Allah." Say, "Do you inform Allah of something He does not know in the heavens or on the earth?" Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him.
No one is more of a criminal or has committed greater wrong than such a person. Liars cannot be confused with Prophets. Anyone who claims such a thing, whether lying or telling the truth, will necessarily be supported by Allah with proofs and signs of his falsehood or truthfulness. The difference between Muhammad and Musaylamah the liar, was clearer to those who met both of them than the difference between forenoon and midnight when it is extremely dark. Those who are clear-sighted can distinguish via signs and proofs between the truthfulness of Muhammad and the falsehood of Musaylamah the liar, Sajah and Al-Aswad Al-`Ansi. Abdullah bin Salam said: "When Allah's Messenger arrived at Al-Madinah, people were scared away and I was one of them. But when I saw him, I realized that his face could never be the face of a liar. The first thing I heard from him was his statement:
(O people, spread the greetings of peace, feed others, be dutiful to your relatives and offer prayers in the night when others are asleep so that you will enter Paradise in peace.)'' When Dimam bin Tha`labah came to Allah's Messenger and asked him in the presence of his people -- Banu Sa`d bin Bakr: "Who raised this heaven'' He replied, ا. (Allah). He asked: "And who erected these mountains'' He replied, ا. (Allah). He asked: "Who spread out this earth'' He replied, ا. (Allah). Then he asked: "I ask you in the name of the One, Who raised the heavens, erected the mountains, and spread out this earth, has Allah sent you as a Messenger to all mankind'' He said,
(By Allah, Yes!) Then Dimam asked him about Salah, Zakah, Hajj and fasting. With every question he swore by Allah and with every response the Prophet swore also. Dimam then said: "You indeed are telling the truth. By the One Who sent you with the truth I will not increase or decrease from what you have told me.'' This man was content with the few responses of the Prophet. He was convinced of the Prophet's truthfulness by the signs that he saw and witnessed. It was narrated that `Amr bin Al-`As went to Musaylamah. `Amr was not a Muslim at that time and he was a friend of Musaylamah. Musaylamah said: "Woe unto you `Amr. What was revealed unto your friend -- meaning Allah's Messenger -- during this period'' `Amr replied: "I heard his companions reading a short but great Surah.'' He asked, "And what was that'' He recited:
(By Al-`Asr (the time). Verily, man is in loss.) [103:1-2] until the end of the Surah. Musaylamah thought for a while and then said: "Something similar to that was also revealed to me.'' `Amr asked: "And what is it'' He then recited: "O Wabr, O Wabr! You are only two ears and a breast. The rest of you is hollow.' What do you think, `Amr'' `Amr then said: "By Allah, you know that I know that you are a liar.'' This was a statement made by an idolater in judgment of Musaylamah. He knew Muhammad and his truthfulness. He also knew Musaylamah and his tendency toward falsehood and lying. People who think and have insight know even better. Allah said:
(And who does more aggression and wrong than he who invents a lie against Allah or rejects His Ayat.) [6:21]
(So who does more wrong than he who forges a lie against Allah or denies His Ayat Surely, the criminals will never be successful!) [10:17] No one is more unjust than he who belies the truth which the Messengers have brought supported with evidence and proof.
(18. And they worship besides Allah things that harm them not, nor profit them, and they say: "These are our intercessors with Allah.'' Say: "Do you inform Allah of that which He knows not in the heavens and on the earth'' Glorified and Exalted is He above all that which they associate as partners (with Him)!) (19. Mankind were but one community, then they differed (later); and had not it been for a Word that went forth before from your Lord, it would have been settled between them regarding what they differed.)
وَمَا كَانَ ٱلنَّاسُ إِلَّآ أُمَّةً۬ وَٲحِدَةً۬ فَٱخۡتَلَفُواْۚ وَلَوۡلَا ڪَلِمَةٌ۬ سَبَقَتۡ مِن رَّبِّكَ لَقُضِىَ بَيۡنَهُمۡ فِيمَا فِيهِ يَخۡتَلِفُونَ
And mankind was not but one community [united in religion], but [then] they differed. And if not for a word that preceded from your Lord, it would have been judged between them [immediately] concerning that over which they differ.
No one is more of a criminal or has committed greater wrong than such a person. Liars cannot be confused with Prophets. Anyone who claims such a thing, whether lying or telling the truth, will necessarily be supported by Allah with proofs and signs of his falsehood or truthfulness. The difference between Muhammad and Musaylamah the liar, was clearer to those who met both of them than the difference between forenoon and midnight when it is extremely dark. Those who are clear-sighted can distinguish via signs and proofs between the truthfulness of Muhammad and the falsehood of Musaylamah the liar, Sajah and Al-Aswad Al-`Ansi. Abdullah bin Salam said: "When Allah's Messenger arrived at Al-Madinah, people were scared away and I was one of them. But when I saw him, I realized that his face could never be the face of a liar. The first thing I heard from him was his statement:
(O people, spread the greetings of peace, feed others, be dutiful to your relatives and offer prayers in the night when others are asleep so that you will enter Paradise in peace.)'' When Dimam bin Tha`labah came to Allah's Messenger and asked him in the presence of his people -- Banu Sa`d bin Bakr: "Who raised this heaven'' He replied, ا. (Allah). He asked: "And who erected these mountains'' He replied, ا. (Allah). He asked: "Who spread out this earth'' He replied, ا. (Allah). Then he asked: "I ask you in the name of the One, Who raised the heavens, erected the mountains, and spread out this earth, has Allah sent you as a Messenger to all mankind'' He said,
(By Allah, Yes!) Then Dimam asked him about Salah, Zakah, Hajj and fasting. With every question he swore by Allah and with every response the Prophet swore also. Dimam then said: "You indeed are telling the truth. By the One Who sent you with the truth I will not increase or decrease from what you have told me.'' This man was content with the few responses of the Prophet. He was convinced of the Prophet's truthfulness by the signs that he saw and witnessed. It was narrated that `Amr bin Al-`As went to Musaylamah. `Amr was not a Muslim at that time and he was a friend of Musaylamah. Musaylamah said: "Woe unto you `Amr. What was revealed unto your friend -- meaning Allah's Messenger -- during this period'' `Amr replied: "I heard his companions reading a short but great Surah.'' He asked, "And what was that'' He recited:
(By Al-`Asr (the time). Verily, man is in loss.) [103:1-2] until the end of the Surah. Musaylamah thought for a while and then said: "Something similar to that was also revealed to me.'' `Amr asked: "And what is it'' He then recited: "O Wabr, O Wabr! You are only two ears and a breast. The rest of you is hollow.' What do you think, `Amr'' `Amr then said: "By Allah, you know that I know that you are a liar.'' This was a statement made by an idolater in judgment of Musaylamah. He knew Muhammad and his truthfulness. He also knew Musaylamah and his tendency toward falsehood and lying. People who think and have insight know even better. Allah said:
(And who does more aggression and wrong than he who invents a lie against Allah or rejects His Ayat.) [6:21]
(So who does more wrong than he who forges a lie against Allah or denies His Ayat Surely, the criminals will never be successful!) [10:17] No one is more unjust than he who belies the truth which the Messengers have brought supported with evidence and proof.
(18. And they worship besides Allah things that harm them not, nor profit them, and they say: "These are our intercessors with Allah.'' Say: "Do you inform Allah of that which He knows not in the heavens and on the earth'' Glorified and Exalted is He above all that which they associate as partners (with Him)!) (19. Mankind were but one community, then they differed (later); and had not it been for a Word that went forth before from your Lord, it would have been settled between them regarding what they differed.)
وَيَقُولُونَ لَوۡلَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيۡهِ ءَايَةٌ۬ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦۖ فَقُلۡ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡغَيۡبُ لِلَّهِ فَٱنتَظِرُوٓاْ إِنِّى مَعَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡمُنتَظِرِينَ
And they say, "Why is a sign not sent down to him from his Lord?" So say, "The unseen is only for Allah [to administer], so wait; indeed, I am with you among those who wait."
Allah then tells us that Shirk was new among mankind. It was not in existence in the beginning. He tells us that people were believers in one religion and that religion was Islam. Ibn `Abbas said: "There were ten centuries between Adam and Nuh. They were all on Islam. Then differences among people took place. They worshipped idols and rivals. So Allah sent extensive evidence and irrefutable proof with His Messengers.''
(So that those who were to be destroyed (for rejecting the faith) might be destroyed after a clear evidence, and those who were to live might live after a clear evidence. (8:42) Allah's statement:
(And had not it been for a Word that went forth before from your Lord...) means that if Allah had not decreed He would not punish anyone until the evidence is established against them. And also that if He had not given creatures a respite until a defined term had passed, He would have judged among them in what they disputed. Then He would have caused the believers to be happy and delighted and the disbelievers to be miserable and wretched.
(20. And they say: "How is it that not a sign is sent down on him from his Lord'' Say: "The Unseen belongs only to Allah, so wait you, verily, I am with you among those who wait.'')