Tafsir of Maryam 19:73

{Clear signs} They are:

• Articulated in wording and concise in meaning.
• Manifest in their objectives: either decisive (muhkamat) or allegorical (mutashabihat), with the decisive ones providing clarification for the allegorical.
• Clarified by the Messenger, whether through speech or action.
• Manifest in their miraculous nature, such that they challenged [the disbelievers] and they were unable to oppose them.
• Or, they are proofs and arguments.

The most appropriate interpretation is that it is a "confirming state" (hal mu'akkida), similar to His saying: "And He is the Truth, confirming..." (2:91), because the signs of Allah are inherently clear and serve as proofs.

{For those who believe} It is possible that they are addressing the believers with this, confronting them with it, or speaking it for their sake and regarding them, as in His saying: "And those who disbelieved said to those who believed, 'If it had been [any] good, they would not have preceded us to it'" (46:11).

{Better in station}

• Ibn Kathir read it as muquman (with a damma), meaning the place of residence or dwelling.
• The others read it as maqaman (with a fatha), meaning the place of standing.
• The intended meaning is the location and the place.

{And [better in] assembly} The nadi is the gathering place, the meeting point of the people, and where they congregate.

The Meaning: When they hear the verses—while they are ignorant, knowing nothing but the outward appearance of the worldly life, which is the extent of their knowledge—they say: "Which of the two groups—those who believe in the verses or those who reject them—has a greater share of the world?" They make this the standard for virtue and deficiency, for status and degradation.

It is narrated that they used to groom their hair, apply oil, perfume themselves, and adorn themselves with luxurious finery. Then, they would boast to the poor Muslims, claiming they were more honored by Allah than them.