Tafsir of Az-Zukhruf 43:48

"And We did not show them any sign..."

If you ask: If a single sign from the nine came to them, which of the remaining signs is it "greater" than?

I reply: Its "sister" is any sign that is like it. This is a description of every one of them. The meaning is that each one is greater than the rest of the signs, by way of detail and examination, one after another. Just as you say, "He is the best man I have seen," meaning you prefer him over the entire group of men you have seen when you examine them man by man.

If you ask: This is contradictory speech, for its meaning is that there is no sign among the nine that is not greater than every other one, so each one is both superior and inferior at the same time.

I reply: The purpose of this speech is that they are all described as being "great," and they hardly differ in that greatness. This is the custom regarding things that meet in excellence and differ only slightly in rank—a slight difference about which people’s opinions vary, so some prefer this and others prefer that. Upon this, people have built their speech, saying, "I saw men, some of whom were better than others." Sometimes the opinion of a single person varies regarding them; at one time he prefers this, and at another he prefers that. From this is the verse from the Hamasa:

Whoever you meet among them, you will say, "I have met their master," Like the stars by which the traveler journeys.

The Anmari woman compared the perfect ones among her sons, then said—when she saw their ranks were close and of little difference—"May I be bereaved of them if I know which of them is better; they are like a ring with no gap, one does not know where its ends are."

{That they might return} Meaning: That they might return from disbelief to faith.

If you ask: If He intended their return, it would have happened.

I reply: His intending the action of another is nothing but commanding him to do it and requesting him to bring it into existence. If that were by way of compulsion, it would exist; otherwise, it revolves between existing and not existing according to the choice of the one tasked. The return did not occur because the intention was not by way of compulsion, and they did not choose it.

The "punishment" refers to the years of drought, the flood, the locusts, and other such things.

{And they said, "O magician, call upon your Lord for us by what He has promised you. Indeed, we will be guided." But when We removed the punishment from them, behold, they broke their word.}