Ghafir: (69) Have you not seen...

(Have you not seen those who dispute concerning the signs of Allah, how they are averted?)

69

This is an expression of astonishment at their hideous states and feeble opinions, and a prelude to what follows—the clarification of their rejection of the entire Quran and all other scriptures and laws, and the ordering of a threat upon that. Just as the preceding statement of the Exalted, "Indeed, those who dispute..." is a clarification of the commencement of their dispute based on a corrupt premise that can barely be conceived to exist; therefore, there is no repetition in this, as stated in Irshad al-'Aql al-Salim.

The Judge (Al-Qadi) said: The mention of disputation is repeated due to a multiplicity in the disputers—meaning there is one group here and another group there—or a multiplicity in the object of dispute, such that each instance is interpreted according to a suitable meaning; thus, the previous mention concerned the Resurrection, while this concerns Monotheism. Or, it is for emphasis, highlighting the importance of the matter. He preferred what was stated in al-Irshad, meaning: Consider these arrogant ones who dispute concerning the clear signs of the Exalted—which necessitate belief in them and restrain one from disputing them—how they are averted from them, despite the presence of supporting motives to turn toward them and the complete absence of any deterrents.

And the statement of the Exalted...