Tafsir of Sad 38:8

They denied that he should be singled out for this honor from among their nobles and leaders, and that the Book should be sent down to him specifically, as they said: "Why was this Quran not sent down to a great man from the two cities?" (Az-Zukhruf: 31).

This denial is an expression of the envy boiling in their chests regarding the honor of prophethood bestowed upon him from among them.

"Nay, they are in doubt" regarding the Quran. They say to themselves: "Is it this, or is it that?" Their saying, "This is nothing but a fabrication," is speech contrary to their own belief about it; they say it out of envy.

"Nay, they have not yet tasted My punishment." Once they taste it, their doubt and envy will vanish. It means they will not believe in it unless the punishment touches them, forcing them to believe.

"Or do they possess the treasures of the mercy of your Lord?" It means: they are not the owners of the treasures of mercy, such that they could bestow them upon whom they wish and withhold them from whom they wish, or choose some of their own chieftains for prophethood, elevating them above Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).

Rather, the One who possesses mercy and its treasures is the Almighty, the Subduer of His creation, the Bestower, the Giver of many gifts who places them where they belong, and who distributes them according to the requirements of His wisdom and justice, as He said: "Do they distribute the mercy of your Lord? We have distributed..." (Az-Zukhruf: 32).

He then reinforced this meaning by saying: "Or do they have the dominion of the heavens and the earth?" such that they may speak regarding divine matters and godly decrees that belong exclusively to the Lord of Might and Majesty.

Then, He mocked them with the utmost mockery, saying: If they were fit to manage creation and dispose of the distribution of mercy, and if they possessed the wisdom to distinguish between who is worthy of prophethood and who is not, "then let them ascend through the means"—let them climb the ladders and paths that lead to the Throne, until they sit upon it, manage the affairs of the world and the kingdom of God, and send down revelation to whom they choose and deem fit.

Then, He rebuked them sharply for that, saying: "A host from the confederates that will be defeated there." He means: They are nothing but an army of disbelievers who have banded together against the messengers of God, destined to be defeated and broken soon. So, do not be concerned by what they say, and do not pay heed to what they mock.

The word "ma" (in jundun ma) is an augmentative particle, carrying a sense of belittlement, as in the saying of Imru’ al-Qais: "And a story, what a story, despite its brevity..." However, here it is used by way of mockery.

"There" is a reference to the position they placed themselves in by undertaking such a momentous claim. It is like saying to someone who takes on a task for which he is not qualified: "You are not 'there' (i.e., you are not up to the task)."

"The people of Noah denied before them, as did ‘Ad, and Pharaoh, the owner of the stakes, and Thamud, and the people of Lot, and the companions of the Thicket. Those are the confederates. Each of them denied the messengers, so My punishment was justified. And these [people] await nothing but a single blast, for which there will be no delay."