{And there does not come to them a messenger}
This is a narrative of a past state, as al-Zamakhshari stated, because *mā* (ما) does not enter upon a present-tense verb unless it is in the position of the present state, nor upon a past-tense verb unless it is close to the present state; and this is the opinion of the majority. Some have said that the most frequent use of *mā* entering upon a present-tense verb intends the present state, though it may also enter upon it intending the future. They cited the verse of Abū Dhu'ayb: "My sons have perished and left me with a sorrow at the time of sleep, and a tear that does not cease," and the verse of al-A'shā praising the Prophet—may Allah exalt and grant him peace: "He has supererogatory gifts whose bestowal does not cease; and the gift of today does not prevent it tomorrow." And the Almighty said: "{It is not for me to change it on my own accord}." This is perhaps the preferred view. Even if *mā* here is for narrative, the intent is the negation of any messenger coming to his own specific sect, not the negation of every messenger coming to every one of those sects collectively, or by way of substitution; meaning: "No sect of those sects was visited by a messenger specific to it, {except that they used to mock him}."
{Just as these disbelievers do}
The sentence, as Abū al-Baqā’ said, is in the accusative position as a state-qualifier (*ḥāl*) for the pronoun of the object in "comes to them" (*ya’tīhim*), if the intent of the "coming" is its occurrence. Or, it is in the nominative or genitive position as an adjective (*ṣifah*) for "messenger," based on its wording or its position, because it is the agent. However, making it an adjective based on its wording has been criticized on the grounds that it leads to an increase in the *min* of generalization in the affirmative statement due to the presence of *illā* (except), and the estimation of the action in the adjective following it. It is also permitted that it be in the accusative as an exception, though the preferred view is the nominative as a substitute (*badal*). As you can see, this is a consolation to the Messenger of Allah—may Allah exalt and grant him peace—that this is the established habit of the ignorant nations with the messengers—peace be upon them—before. Since the messenger was accompanied by a Book from Allah the Almighty, their mocking of the messenger is a mention of their mocking of the Book; for this reason, He, the Exalted, said:
