Al-A'raf: (48-49) And the companions of the Heights called out...

It is known that after Allah, the Exalted, clarified with His saying: {And when their eyes are turned toward the companions of the Fire, they will say, "Our Lord..."} (Al-A'raf: 47), He followed it by mentioning that the companions of the Heights (Aṣḥāb al-A'rāf) call out to men from the people of the Fire.

He sufficed mentioning the people of the Fire because the subsequent speech is only fitting for them. This speech is: {What did not avail you your gathering and what you used to be arrogant about.} This statement is only fitting for one who is being rebuked and admonished, and it is only fitting for their chief figures.

The term "your gathering" (jamʿukum) means either the gathering of wealth or the gathering/multitude itself.

And {what you used to be arrogant about} (mā kuntum tastakbirūn) refers to their arrogance in refusing to accept the Truth, and their arrogance toward the righteous people.

It has also been recited as {tastakthirūn} (you used to seek abundance/increase).

This serves as an indication of the schadenfreude of the companions of the Heights regarding the downfall of those being addressed into punishment, and it signifies a great rebuke that befalls those addressed because of this statement.

Then, they added to this rebuke, saying: {Are these the ones whom you swore that Allah would never admit to His mercy?}

Here, they are pointing to a group from the people of Paradise whom the people of the Fire used to look down upon, consider insignificant, perhaps mock, and feel disdainful about sharing their religion with. When the one who claimed superiority sees that the high station has been attained by one whom he considered weak, he experiences distress, and his regret and remorse over his past actions intensify.

As for His saying, the Exalted: {Enter Paradise}, there are differing opinions regarding it:

1. It is said that these are the companions of the Heights, and Allah, the Exalted, is commanding them, or some of the angels whom Allah has commanded to say this.
2. It is said that some of them say this to others among themselves.

The meaning is that Allah, the Exalted, urges the companions of the Heights to enter Paradise and join the station that Allah has prepared for them. Under this interpretation, His saying: {Are these the ones whom you swore that Allah would never admit to His mercy?} is the speech of the companions of the Heights. And His saying: {Enter Paradise} is the speech of Allah, the Exalted.

There must be an implied statement here. The meaning is: Allah said this to them, just as He said: {He intends to expel you from your land} (Al-A'raf: 110). The speech of the chiefs (of Pharaoh's people) ended there. Then Pharaoh said: {So what do you command?} (Al-A'raf: 110). Thus, his speech connected with theirs without explicitly showing the transition, and it is the same here.

{And the companions of the Fire will call to the companions of Paradise, "Pour down upon us some water or whatever Allah has provided for you." They will say, "Indeed, Allah has forbidden them to the disbelievers, *Who took their religion as amusement and diversion and were deluded by the worldly life." So today We will forget them as they forgot the meeting of this Day of theirs and because they used to reject Our signs.}