MUSJIDUL HAQ

عَمَّ یَتَسَآءَلُوۡنَ ۚ﴿۱﴾

  What they are questioning for among themselves? 

عَنِ النَّبَاِ الْعَظِیۡمِ ۙ﴿۲﴾

  About the Great News.

 الَّذِیۡ ہُمْ فِیۡہِ مُخْتَلِفُوۡنَ ؕ﴿۳﴾

  In which they differ.

کَلَّا سَیَعْلَمُوۡنَ ۙ﴿۴﴾

  Yes, they will now know.

 ثُمَّ کَلَّا سَیَعْلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۵﴾

  Again, yes, they will soon know.

Tafsir al-Qurtubi                                                                                                                                                                                      تفسیر القرطبی                                                    

عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: كَانَتْ قُرَيْشٌ تَجْلِسُ لَمَّا نَزَلَ الْقُرْآنُ فَتَتَحَدَّثُ فِيمَا بَيْنَهَا فَمِنْهُمُ الْمُصَدِّقُ وَمِنْهُمُ الْمُكَذِّبُ بِهِ فَنَزَلَتْ عَمَّ يَتَساءَلُونَ

 What they are questioning for among themselves about the Great News?…

Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Abbas – may Allah be pleased with him – is reported to have said:  The Quraish used to gather at the times of the revelation of the Holy Quran and discuss about it.  There were those amongst them who considered it to be true and those that falsified it, and therefore the verse “What they are questioning for among themselves about the Great News?” revealed.

(الَّذِي هُمْ فِيهِ مُخْتَلِفُونَ) أَيْ يُخَالِفُ فِيهِ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا، فَيُصَدِّقُ وَاحِدٌ وَيُكَذِّبُ آخَرُ

In which they differ… i.e. Some form different opinions than others; so, some testified its truth whereas others falsified it.

عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: وَذَلِكَ أَنَّ الْيَهُودَ سَأَلُوا النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ كَثِيرَةٍ، فَأَخْبَرَهُ اللَّهُ جَلَّ ثَنَاؤُهُ بِاخْتِلَافِهِمْ، ثُمَّ هَدَّدَهُمْ فَقَالَ: كَلَّا سَيَعْلَمُونَ أَيْ سَيَعْلَمُونَ عَاقِبَةَ الْقُرْآنِ، أَوْ سيعلمون البعث: أحق هو أم باطل.

Yes, they will now know…

Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Abbas – may Allah be pleased with them – is reported to have said:  They were the Jews who used to question the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – about a lot of things, so Allah Almighty made him aware of their differences and then He intimidated them by stating “Yes, they will now know.” i.e. Soon they shall realize the Prophecies of the Holy Quran or they will realize the resurrection; whether it is true or false!

(ثُمَّ كَلَّا سَيَعْلَمُونَ) أَيْ حَقًّا لَيَعْلَمُنَّ  صِدْقَ مَا جَاءَ بِهِ مُحَمَّدٌ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ وَمِمَّا ذَكَرَهُ لَهُمْ مِنَ الْبَعْثِ بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ.

وَقَالَ الضَّحَّاكُ: كَلَّا سَيَعْلَمُونَ يَعْنِي الْكَافِرِينَ عَاقِبَةَ تَكْذِيبِهِمْ. ثُمَّ كَلَّا سَيَعْلَمُونَ يَعْنِي الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَاقِبَةَ تَصْدِيقِهِمْ.

Again, yes, they will soon know… i.e. they shall definitely find out the truth of whatever the Holy Prophet Muhammad – may Allah send peace and blessings upon him – brought forth; the Quran and the mention of resurrection after death.

Sayyiduna Dhahhak – may Allah be pleased with him – said:  i.e. Soon the disbelievers will realize the consequences of their lies and then again, soon the believers will realize the outcome of their truthfulness.

Tafsir Qurtubi (Al-Jame’ Li Ahkaam al-Quran) Imam Shamsuddin Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Qurtubi t D. 671 A.H.