Hud: 17
{Is he who is upon a clear proof...}
The meaning is: Is he who desires the life of this world like him who is upon a clear proof? That is, they are not equal in status, nor do they approach one another. He intends that there is a vast disparity and a clear distinction between the two groups.
By "him who is upon a clear proof," he means those who believed among the Jews, such as ‘Abdullah ibn Salam and others.
{...from his Lord}
That is, upon a demonstration from God and a clarification that the religion of Islam is the truth, which is the evidence of reason.
{...and a witness from Him recites it}
He follows that proof with a witness who testifies to its truthfulness, which is the Qur’an. "From Him" means from God, or a witness for the Qur’an, as it was mentioned just before.
{...and before it was the Book of Moses}
And before the Qur’an, there was the Book of Moses—the Torah. That is, this proof is also followed by the Book of Moses.
It is also read as Kitaba Musa (in the accusative case). The meaning then is: He was upon a clear proof from his Lord, which is the evidence that the Qur’an is the truth. {And a witness from Him recites it}: A witness from among those who were upon a clear proof recites the Qur’an. This is like His saying: "And a witness from the Children of Israel has testified to the like of it" (Al-Ahqaf: 10), and "Say, 'Sufficient is Allah as Witness between me and you, and whoever has knowledge of the Book'" (Ar-Ra‘d: 43).
{...a guide and a mercy}
And before the Qur’an and the Torah, there follows an Imam—a book to be followed in religion, a model therein—and a Mercy, a great blessing upon those to whom it was sent down.
{Those...}
Meaning those who were upon a clear proof.
{...believe in it}
They believe in the Qur’an.
{But whoever disbelieves in it from the factions}
Meaning the people of Mecca and those who joined them in confederacy against the Messenger of God (peace be upon him).
{...the Fire is his promised place. So do not be in doubt}
It is also read as miryah (with a damma), and both mean doubt.
{...about it}
About the Qur’an, or about the promised place.
Hud: 18–22
{And who is more unjust than one who invents a lie about Allah? Those will be presented before their Lord, and the witnesses will say, "These are the ones who lied against their Lord." Unquestionably, the curse of Allah is upon the wrongdoers—those who avert [people] from the way of Allah and seek to make it crooked, and they, in the Hereafter, are disbelievers. Those were not causing failure [to Allah] on earth, nor did they have besides Allah any protectors. For them the punishment will be doubled. They were not able to hear, nor did they see. Those are the ones who have lost themselves, and what they used to invent has vanished from them. Assuredly, they are in the Hereafter the greatest losers.}
