Tafsir of Az-Zukhruf 43:5

Meaning: Shall We remove the Reminder from you and drive it away from you?

This is used metaphorically, derived from the expression: "He drove the stray camels away from the watering trough." From this is the saying of al-Hajjaj: "I shall surely drive you away as one drives stray camels." Tarafa also said: Drive away your worries, both new and old, As you strike the crest of a horse with a sword.

The Fa (ف): It is a conjunction connecting to a deleted clause. The estimation is: "Shall We neglect you, and thus remove the Reminder from you?" This is a denial that the matter could be otherwise than what has preceded regarding the sending down of the Book and the creation of it as an Arabic Quran, so that they may understand it and act according to its requirements.

Safhan (صَفْحًا): It has two interpretations:

1. An infinitive (Masdar): From the verb safaha 'anhu (to turn away from). It is in the accusative case as a maf'ul lahu (causative object), meaning: "Shall We cease sending down the Quran and imposing the proof upon you, out of turning away from you?"
2. Meaning "the side" (Janib): From the saying, "He looked at him with the side (safh) of his face." It means: "Shall We set it aside from you?" It is in the accusative as an adverb of place, just as you say, "Place it to the side (janiban)," and "Walk to the side (janiban)." This is supported by the reading of those who recited it as suhfan (صُفْحًا) with a damma. In this reading, there is another aspect: it could be a simplified form of suhuf, the plural of safuh (one who turns away), and it would be in the accusative as a state (hal), meaning: "being those who turn away."

{أَن كُنتُمْ} Meaning: "Because you were." It is also read as in kuntum (if you were) and idh kuntum (when you were).

If you ask: How is the meaning of the conditional in (if) sound, when they were definitively excessive in their transgression? I reply: It is from the type of condition that I have mentioned, which proceeds from one who is confident in the validity of a matter and certain of its establishment. It is like a hired worker saying, "If I have worked for you, then pay me my due," while he knows for certain that he has. However, he implies in his speech that your failure to fulfill the right is the act of someone who doubts the entitlement, despite its clarity, in order to treat you as if you were ignorant.

{وَكَمْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن نَّبِيٍّ فِي الْأَوَّلِينَ * وَمَا يَأْتِيهِم مِّن نَّبِيٍّ إِلَّا كَانُوا بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِئُونَ * فَأَهْلَكْنَا أَشَدَّ مِنْهُم بَطْشًا وَمَضَىٰ مَثَلُ الْأَوَّلِينَ}