Tafsir of An-Naml 27:45

"And it is read: ( أن اعبدوا ) [that you worship], with a damma on the nun to follow the ba."

{ فريقان } [Two parties]: A believing party and a disbelieving party. It is also said that the two parties refer to Salih (peace be upon him) and his people before any of them had believed.

{ يختصمون } [Disputing]: Each party says: "The truth is with me."

The Sayyi'ah (Evil): The punishment. The Hasanah (Good): Repentance.

If you ask: What is the meaning of their hastening the evil before the good, when that only occurs if both are expected, one before the other?

I say: Due to their ignorance, they used to say: "If the punishment that Salih (peace be upon him) promises actually occurs, as he claims, we will repent then and seek forgiveness," assuming that repentance would be accepted at that time. And if it does not occur, then we remain as we are.

Thus, Salih (peace be upon him) addressed them according to their own words and beliefs. Then he said to them: "Why do you not seek forgiveness from Allah before the descent of the punishment?"

{ لعلكم ترحمون } [That you might receive mercy]: This serves to alert them to the error in what they said and to highlight the ignorance in what they believed.

{ قالوا اطيرنا بك وبمن معك قال طائركم عند الله بل أنتم قوم تفتنون } "They said: 'We consider you an evil omen, and those with you.' He said: 'Your omen is with Allah; rather, you are a people being tested.'"