(Say: "To whom belongs the earth and whosoever is therein?")

(This refers to the created beings, giving precedence to the rational ones over others.)

(If you know.)

(The answer to this is omitted, relying upon the indication of the interrogation for it. That is: if you are among the people of knowledge and the rational, or if you possess knowledge of this, then inform me of it. In this verse, there is a degree of exaggeration in belittling them and establishing their extreme ignorance that is not hidden.)

And what reinforces this is that He informs of the answer before they respond, as He, the Glorified, says: