Tafsir of Ash-Shu`ara' 26:137

This is no other than Khuluq of the ancients. Some scholars read this: "Khalq''. According to Ibn Mas`ud and according to Abdullah bin Abbas -- as reported from Al-Awfi -- and Alqamah and Mujahid, they meant, "What you have brought to us is nothing but the tales (Akhlaq) of the ancients.'' This is like what the idolators of Quraysh said:

وقالوا أسطير اﻻولين اكتتبها فهى تملى عليه بكرة وأصيﻼ

And they say: "Tales of the ancients, which he has written down, and they are dictated to him morning and afternoon.'' (25:5) And Allah said:

وقال الذين كفروا إن هذا إﻻ إفك افتراه وأعانه عليه قوم ءاخرون فقد جاءوا ظلما وزورا

وقالوا أسطير اﻻولين

Those who disbelieve say: "This is nothing but a lie that he has invented, and others have helped him in it. In fact, they have produced an injustice and a lie.'' And they say: "Tales of the ancients...'' (25:4-5)

وإذا قيل لهم ماذآ أنزل ربكم قالوا أسطير اﻻولين

And when it is said to them: "What is it that your Lord has sent down'' They say: "Tales of the ancient!'' (16:24) Some other scholars recited it,

إن هذا إﻻ خلق اﻻولين

(This is no other than Khuluq of the ancients), "as Khuluq,'' meaning their religion. What they were following was the religion of the ancients, their fathers and grandfathers, as if they were saying: "We are following them, we will live as they lived and die as they died, and there will be no resurrection and no judgement.'' Hence they said:

وما نحن بمعذبين