Tafsir of Saba' 34:33

Surah Saba' (34): Verse 33

{And those who were deemed weak will say to those who were arrogant: "Nay, [it was] the plotting by night and day, when you used to order us to disbelieve in Allah and set up rivals for Him."}

When the arrogant ones mentioned that what they did was not a sufficient barrier or deterrent, the oppressed acknowledged it and said: {Nay, [it was] the plotting by night and day} that prevented us.

Then they said to them: If you did not bring a definitive deterrent or a strong barrier, your command to us to disbelieve was joined with length of time and extension over periods, so we disbelieved. Thus, your saying was part of the cause.

Another interpretation is that the intended meaning is "Nay, your plotting by night and day," where the possessive noun is omitted.

And His saying: {when you used to order us to disbelieve in Allah}—meaning, to deny Him—{and set up rivals for Him}. This clarifies that the polytheist, although seemingly affirming God, is in reality denying God's existence, because one who is equated with a created, sculpted thing cannot be a god.

Regarding the earlier statement, {some of them will return to others the saying} (Saba: 32), it uses the future tense. However, in the subsequent verses, it uses the past tense: {And those who were arrogant said} and {And those who were deemed weak said}. This indicates that the questioning and the exchange of words must occur. That which is necessarily destined to happen is treated as if it has already occurred, just as He says: {Indeed, you are to die, and indeed, they are to die} (Az-Zumar: 30).

{And they will conceal their regret when they see the punishment, and We will place shackles around the necks of those who disbelieved. Are they recompensed except for what they used to do?}

This means that they will retract their initial words. Then, when the overwhelming punishment comes, they will conceal that retraction, which signifies regret.

Another opinion is that concealing (إسرار) means making manifest (إظهار); that is, they will display their regret.

It is also possible that when they retracted their words, they returned to God saying: {Our Lord, we have seen and heard, so return us [to the world] that we may do righteous deeds} (As-Sajdah: 12). Then they were answered and informed that there is no return for them, and they concealed that statement (of regret/plea).

And His saying: {and We will place shackles around the necks of those who disbelieved} (Saba: 33) points to the nature of the punishment. It implies that mere sight [of the punishment] is not enough; rather, when they saw the punishment, they became certain they would fall into it, so they abandoned regret and fell into it, and the shackles were placed around their necks.

And His saying: {Are they recompensed except for what they used to do?} indicates that this is their just due, according to fairness.

**{And We have never sent a warner to a town except that its affluent ones said, "Indeed, we are disbelievers in what you have been sent with," And they said, "We are greater in wealth and in children, and we will not be punished."}*