[And those who do not know said], namely the polytheists of the Arabs, [Why]—meaning why—[does Allah not speak to us or a sign come to us? Those before them said the like of what they said], meaning the statement of the people of Moses to Moses, peace be upon him, [Show us Allah outright], and what they asked for in terms of signs. [Their hearts have become similar] in disbelief, similar to His saying: [They imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before]. [We have clearly shown the signs to a people who are certain], those who believe.
Muhammad said: Meaning the signs that he brought, may Allah's prayers be upon him, such as the splitting of the moon, and other than that of his signs.
﴿وَقَالَ الَّذين لَا يعلمُونَ﴾ وهم مشركو الْعَرَب ﴿لَوْلَا﴾ هلا ﴿يُكَلِّمُنَا اللَّهُ أَوْ تَأْتِينَا آيَةٌ كَذَلِكَ قَالَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قبلهم مثل قَوْلهم﴾ يَعْنِي: قَول قوم مُوسَى لمُوسَى عليه السلام ﴿أَرِنَا اللَّهَ جَهْرَةً﴾ وَمَا سَأَلُوا من الْآيَات ﴿تَشَابَهَتْ قُلُوبهم﴾ فِي الْكفْر مثل قَوْله: ﴿يضهئون قَوْلَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ قَبْلُ﴾ ﴿وَقد بَينا الْآيَات لقوم يوقنون﴾ يصدقون.
قَالَ مُحَمَّد: يَعْنِي الْآيَات الَّتي أَتَى بِهَا صلوَات اللَّه عَلَيْهِ فِي نَحْو انْشِقَاق الْقَمَر؛ وَغير ذَلِك من آيَاته.
