"And the answer of his people was nothing but"—[the narrative] returns to the story of Ibrahim—"Indeed in that are signs for a people who believe." That is: in what Allah did for Ibrahim, His Khalil (Friend), and how He saved him from the fire; and indeed, it is only the believers who take heed.
Muhammad said: Whoever reads 'jawaba' (the answer) in the accusative case (nasb) makes 'an qalu' (that they said) the noun of 'kana' (was).
﴿فَمَا كَانَ جَوَاب قومه﴾ رَجَعَ إِلَى قِصَّةِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ﴿إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لآيَاتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ﴾ أَيْ: فِيمَا صَنَعَ اللَّهُ لِإِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلِهُ وَمَا نَجَّاهُ مِنَ النَّارِ، وَإِنَّمَا يَعْتَبِرُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ.
قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ: من قَرَأَ (جَوَاب) بِالنّصب جعل (أَن قَالُوا) اسْم كَانَ.