Tafsir of Al-Isra 17:94

{And nothing prevented the people}—meaning those whose falsehoods were recounted—{from believing}—this is the object of "prevented."

His saying, the Exalted: {when guidance came to them}—this is an adverbial modifier for "prevented" or "to believe," meaning: nothing prevented them at the time when the revelation accompanied by miracles, which necessitate belief, came to them, from believing in the Quran and in your prophethood, or nothing prevented them from believing at the time when what was mentioned came—{except that they said}—this is the agent of "prevented," meaning: except for their saying: {Has Allah sent a human as a messenger?}—denying that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, could be of the human species.

It is not meant that this statement originated from some and thus prevented others; rather, the impediment is the belief shared by all that entails this statement from them. He expressed it as "saying" to indicate that it is merely a statement they utter with their mouths, without it having any substance or reality. The restriction of the impediment to what was mentioned—despite their having various impediments—is because it is the greatest of them, or because it is the impediment according to the situation, i.e., at the time of hearing the response in His saying, the Exalted: {Am I anything but a human messenger?}—for it is what they cling to at that moment, without any other of their flimsy doubts crossing their minds.

Therein, according to this view, is an indication of the completeness of their obstinacy, such that they turn the aforementioned response—which is decisive in cutting off their doubts and necessitates belief—and make it an impediment instead. Some scholars of profound research have stated this. The apparent meaning of this is that the people did not make such a claim at all regarding the messengership of any of the well-known messengers, such as Ibrahim and Musa, peace be upon them. Some have stated explicitly that they did not deny the messengership of others besides him, peace and blessings be upon him, and that this saying of theirs was a description [of a deficiency]. However, this is contrary to the apparent meaning here. Perhaps the people were in doubt and hesitation, never remaining consistent in one state, so ponder this.

The apparent meaning is that the verse is a report from Him, Glorified be His Majesty, regarding the matter that prevented them from believing. It appears from the words of Ibn Atiyyah that these words from him, peace and blessings be upon him, were spoken in the sense of reproach and lamentation, but far be it from anyone who has the slightest refined taste to hold such a view.