Tafsir of Al-Mu'minoon 23:84

"Say: To whom belongs the earth..."

Meaning: Answer me regarding what I have asked you, if you possess any knowledge of it. There is in this a belittling of them and an assumption of their extreme ignorance regarding religions: that they would be ignorant of such an obvious and manifest matter.

"Will you not then remember?" It is also recited as tadhakkarūn (تذكرون) with the second tā’ omitted. Its meaning is: Will you not take heed and learn that He who originated the earth and those within it by invention is capable of recreating the creation, and is worthy of not having any of His creation associated with Him in Lordship?

Regarding the recitation of "To whom" (li-man): The first instance is recited with the lām exclusively. The latter two instances are recited with the lām—this is how it appears in the codices of the people of the Two Sanctuaries (Mecca and Medina), Kufa, and Syria. It is also recited without the lām—this is how it appears in the codices of the people of Basra.

The recitation with the lām is based on the meaning, because your saying "Who is its Lord?" (man rabbu-hu) and "To whom does it belong?" (li-man huwa) are identical in meaning. The recitation without the lām is based on the literal wording. It is permissible to recite the first instance without the lām, but it has not been established in the transmission.

"Will you not then fear?" Will you not fear Him, and thus not associate partners with Him nor disobey His messengers?

"And He protects, but none is protected against Him" I say "I protected (ajartu) so-and-so from so-and-so" when I aid him against him and defend him. It means: He protects whom He wills from whom He wills, but no one can protect anyone against Him.

"How then are you deluded?" You are deceived away from His Oneness and obedience. The deceiver is Satan and [one's own] desire.

"Nay, We have brought them the truth, and indeed they are liars. Allah has not taken any son, nor is there with Him any god. If there were, then each god would have taken away what he created, and some of them would have sought to overcome others. Exalted is Allah above what they describe! [He is] the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, so high is He above what they associate [with Him]."