Jonah: (74) Then We sent...

Know that what is meant is: Then We sent messengers after Noah, and He did not name them. Among them were Hud, Salih, Abraham, Lot, and Shu'ayb (peace be upon them all), with clear signs (al-bayyināt), which are the overwhelming miracles.

Allah the Exalted informed that these messengers followed the methodology of Noah's people in denial. What reached them regarding Allah's destruction of Noah's deniers did not deter them from that path.

Therefore, He said: {So they would not believe in what they had previously denied}.

The intended meaning is not the exact thing they denied, as that did not occur in their time. Rather, it means believing in something similar to what they denied, because the clear signs (al-bayyināt) presented by all the prophets, peace be upon them, are as if they were one and the same.

Then Allah the Exalted said: {Thus do We seal the hearts of the transgressors}.

Our scholars used this verse as evidence that Allah the Exalted may prevent a responsible person (mukallaf) from believing. The argument is clear: Al-Qadi [Al-Baqillani] said that sealing (al-ṭabʿ) does not prevent belief, based on the verse: {Rather, Allah has sealed them because of their disbelief, so they will not believe except for a few} (An-Nisa: 155). If this sealing were a prevention, then this exception would not be valid.

The response is that the discussion concerning this issue was covered exhaustively in the exegesis of His saying: {Allah has set a seal upon their hearts and upon their hearing...} (Al-Baqarah: 7). Thus, there is no benefit in repeating it.

The Second Story

The Story of Moses (peace be upon him)

**{Then We sent after them Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh and his chiefs with Our signs, but they were arrogant and were a criminal people. When the truth came to them from Us, they said, "Indeed, this is manifest magic." * Moses said, "Do you say this of the truth when it has come to you? Is this magic? But magicians do not succeed."}* (Jonah: 75-77)