Tafsir of Ya seen 36:19

Surah Ya-Sin (36): Verse 19

{قالوا طائركم معكم}

They replied: "Your ill omen is with you."

This means: Your misfortune/evil is inherent to you, referring to their disbelief (Kufr).

{أءن ذكرتم}

"Do you threaten us because we reminded you?"

This is a response to their previous statement: {لَنَرْجُمَنَّكُمْ} ("We will surely stone you"). They are essentially asking: "Will you do this to us just because we admonish you?"

The phrase {إن ذكرتم} ("if we remind you") means: if we clarify the matter to you with miracles and proofs.

{بل أنتم قوم مسرفون}

"Nay, you are a people who transgress."

This means: You are acting excessively (in two ways):

1. You treat someone who should be honored (the Messengers) as someone who brings bad omens, and you intend to harm him.
2. You are transgressors because you disbelieve, and even after the truth becomes clear through miracles and proofs, you persist. The transgressor (Musrif) is one who exceeds the limit, reaching the opposite extreme. They were like this in many matters, such as their views on seeking blessings (tabarruk) and bad omens, and on honoring versus harming. Regarding disbelief, it is obligatory to follow the proof; if proof is absent, one should at least not be certain of the opposite. Yet, they became certain of disbelief after the proof for faith was established.

Objection: If the reason for their threat is to cause harm, what is the matter being rejected?

Response: It is possible that the statement {أءن ذكرتم} ("Do you threaten us because we reminded you?") is directed against their accusation that the Messengers were liars, as stated in {إن أنتم إلا تكذبون} (36:15) ("You are nothing but liars"). It is as if they said: "Are we liars even when we bring proof? Nay, you are a people who transgress."

Other possibilities:

1. Are we ill-omened, even when we bring proof of the truth of our message? Nay, you are a people who transgress.
2. Are we deserving of stoning and harm, even when we clarify the truth of what we have brought? Nay, you are a people who transgress.

The Historical Account (Hikaayah):

The well-known story is that Jesus (peace be upon him) sent two men to Antioch. They called the people to monotheism and performed miracles, such as healing the blind and the leper, and reviving the dead. The king arrested them. Later, he sent Shimon (Simon). Shimon approached the king skillfully without claiming prophethood. He then said, "I hear there are two men in prison claiming something marvelous; why don't we summon them so we can hear their words?" The king agreed.

When they were brought forth, they presented their true message. Shimon asked them for proof. They responded by healing the blind, the leper, and reviving the dead. Shimon then said to the king, "If you wish to overcome them, command the idols you worship to do something similar." The king replied, "It is clear to you that they cannot see, hear, have power, or know." Shimon concluded, "Then the truth has clearly manifested from their side." The king and some of the people believed, while others remained disbelievers. Ultimately, the victory went to the deniers (in the immediate worldly sense, leading to the persecution of the believers).

Surah Ya-Sin (36): Verse 20

! 7 < { وجآء من أقصى المدينة رجل يسعى قال ياقوم اتبعوا المرسلين } > 7 !

And there came a man from the farthest part of the city, running. He said, "O my people, follow the Messengers!"