{They said: Indeed, we consider you an evil omen...}

(They said) — when all strategies were exhausted for them and excuses failed them — (Indeed, we consider you an evil omen).

Meaning: We find you ominous. This follows the habit of the ignorant, who take as a good omen everything that aligns with their desires, even if it brings every evil, and take as an evil omen everything that contradicts them, even if it leads to every good. Or, it is based on the fact that the call [to faith] does not lack warnings of what they dislike—namely, the striking of harm if they do not believe—so they were repelled by it. Muqatil said: "Rain was withheld from them." Another said: "Leprosy spread among them when they belied the messengers, peace be upon them." Ibn 'Atiyyah said: "The evil omen of these people was due to the discord that entered among them and the trial that befell the people." The origin of Tatayyur (taking omens) lies in taking signs from the flight of birds, whether to the left or the right, and then it became general. The basis of the evil omen they attributed to them was their speech, as is sensed by the words of the Almighty: (If you do not desist)—meaning from this speech of yours.

(We will surely stone you) — with stones; this was stated by Qatadah. He mentioned two possibilities regarding it: the possibility that the stoning is for killing, meaning "We will surely kill you by stoning you with stones," and the possibility that it is for causing harm, meaning "We will surely harm you with that." 'Abd bin Humayd narrated from Mujahid that he said: "It means we will surely revile you," then he added: "The word 'stoning' (Rajm) in the entire Quran means reviling."

(And there will surely touch you a painful punishment from us). The author of Al-Bahr said: "It is burning." It was also said: "It is a different kind of punishment, with which life remains." The intent is: "We will kill you with stones, or we will punish you if we do not kill you, with a painful punishment the extent of which cannot be measured, such that you would wish for death alongside it." It was said: "The painful punishment refers to spiritual torment, while the stoning with stones refers to a specific type of bodily harm." Thus, it is as if they alternated the matter between bodily harm and spiritual harm. It was also said: "The painful punishment refers to the bodily [torment], while the stoning refers to the spiritual punishment and harm, based on the interpretation that it means reviling." Others said otherwise.