[And every nation plotted against their messenger to seize him]—to kill him—[and they disputed]—they argued—[with falsehood]—with polytheism, with which they disputed against the prophets and the believers—[to invalidate thereby]—meaning: to make disappear thereby—[the truth]—meaning: faith.
[So I seized them; and how was My penalty?]—meaning: it was severe.
﴿وَهَمَّتْ كُلُّ أُمَّةٍ بِرَسُولِهِمْ لِيَأْخُذُوهُ﴾ فيقتلوه ﴿وجادلوا﴾ خاصموا ﴿بِالْبَاطِلِ﴾ بالشرك جادلوا بِهِ الْأَنْبِيَاء وَالْمُؤمنِينَ ﴿ليدحضوا بِهِ﴾ أَي: يذهبوا بِهِ ﴿الْحق﴾ يَعْنِي: الْإِيمَان.
﴿فَأَخَذْتُهُمْ بِالْعَذَابِ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عِقَابِ﴾ أَي: كَانَ شَدِيدا
