Surah Faatir (35) — Ayah 42

(Ayah 42) ➊ { وَ اَقْسَمُوْا بِاللّٰهِ جَهْدَ اَيْمَانِهِمْ …:} The disbelief and ingratitude of the polytheists was manifested both in the form of associating partners (shirk) and in denying the Messenger, so after refuting shirk, their ingratitude in the form of denying the Messenger is mentioned. Before the arrival of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), when the polytheists of Makkah met the People of the Book during their travels to other cities of Arabia, such as Yathrib and Khaybar, or to other countries, such as Syria, the People of the Book would criticize their idol worship and other ignorances. In response, they would say, "You people have received Allah’s Messengers and His Books. If a Messenger comes to us, we will be more guided than any other nation." And they would swear the strongest oaths they could on this claim, as Allah Almighty has said elsewhere: «اَنْ تَقُوْلُوْۤا اِنَّمَاۤ اُنْزِلَ الْكِتٰبُ عَلٰى طَآىِٕفَتَيْنِ مِنْ قَبْلِنَا وَ اِنْ كُنَّا عَنْ دِرَاسَتِهِمْ لَغٰفِلِيْنَ (156) اَوْ تَقُوْلُوْا لَوْ اَنَّاۤ اُنْزِلَ عَلَيْنَا الْكِتٰبُ لَكُنَّاۤ اَهْدٰى مِنْهُمْ فَقَدْ جَآءَكُمْ بَيِّنَةٌ مِّنْ رَّبِّكُمْ وَ هُدًى وَّ رَحْمَةٌ فَمَنْ اَظْلَمُ مِمَّنْ كَذَّبَ بِاٰيٰتِ اللّٰهِ وَ صَدَفَ عَنْهَا » [ الأنعام : ۱۵۶، ۱۵۷ ] "Lest you say, 'The Book was only sent down to two groups before us, and indeed we were unaware of their study.' Or lest you say, 'If the Book had been sent down to us, we would have been better guided than them.' So there has certainly come to you a clear proof from your Lord, and guidance and mercy. Then who is more unjust than one who denies the signs of Allah and turns away from them?" And as He said: «وَ اِنْ كَانُوْا لَيَقُوْلُوْنَ (167) لَوْ اَنَّ عِنْدَنَا ذِكْرًا مِّنَ الْاَوَّلِيْنَ (168) لَكُنَّا عِبَادَ اللّٰهِ الْمُخْلَصِيْنَ (169) فَكَفَرُوْا بِهٖ فَسَوْفَ يَعْلَمُوْنَ » [ الصافات : ۱۶۷ تا ۱۷۰ ] "And indeed they used to say, 'If only we had a reminder from those of old, we would surely have been Allah’s chosen servants.' But they denied it, so soon they will know."
➋ {فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ نَذِيْرٌ مَّا زَادَهُمْ اِلَّا نُفُوْرًا :} So when a warner came to them, instead of accepting guidance more than any other nation, they persisted in their disbelief and shirk. Rather, the coming of the Messenger only increased their aversion and fleeing away, and they became even more distant from guidance than before.