They said, "Rather, we have come to you with that about which they were doubting," meaning they were skeptical regarding the punishment; for they used to say, "We shall not be punished," at the time when he was threatening them with the punishment if they did not believe.
﴿قَالُوا بَلْ جِئْنَاكَ بِمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يمترون﴾ يَشُكُّونَ، مِنَ الْعَذَابِ؛ كَانُوا يَقُولُونَ: لَا نُعَذَّبُ؛ حِينَ كَانَ يُخَوِّفُهُمْ بِالْعَذَابِ إِن لم يُؤمنُوا
