Tafsir of Al-Anbiya' 21:18

{Nay, We hurl the Truth...}

{Nay (bal)}: This is a retraction (idrab) from the notion of taking a pastime or sport, and a declaration of His Essence’s transcendence. It is as if He said: "Exalted are We above taking a pastime or sport. Rather, it is Our habit, the requirement of Our wisdom, and [a consequence of] Our being above anything ugly, that We overcome sport with seriousness, and refute falsehood with Truth."

He employed the metaphor of "hurling" (qadhf) and "crushing" (damgh) to depict the invalidation, nullification, and eradication of falsehood. He portrayed it as if it were a solid object—like a rock, for instance—hurled at a soft, hollow object, crushing it.

Then He said: {...and woe to you for what you describe}—that is, for what you attribute to Him and His wisdom that is not permissible.

It is also recited as (fayadmaghahu) in the accusative case, though it is weak, similar to the poet’s verse: I shall leave my home to the Banu Tamim, And join the Hijaz, so I may find rest (wa-astariha).

{To Him belongs whoever is in the heavens and the earth. And those who are near Him are not too proud to worship Him, nor do they weary. They exalt Him night and day, and they do not slacken.}