Surah Maryam Tafseer

The Disbelievers boast over Their good Fortune in the World

Allah says,

وَإِذَا تُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ ايَاتُنَا بَيِّنَاتٍ قَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِلَّذِينَ امَنُوا أَيُّ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ

And when Our clear Ayat are recited to them, those who disbelieve say to those who believe:"Which of the two groups has the,

Allah, the Exalted, informs that when the clear, evident Ayat of Allah are recited to the disbelievers, they reject them and turn away. They say about those who believe, while boasting to them and arguing that their false religion is correct,

خَيْرٌ مَّقَامًا وَأَحْسَنُ نَدِيًّا

best dwellings and the finest Nadiyyan.

This means the best houses, with the loftiest levels and the finest Nadiyyan, which are meeting rooms for men to gather and discuss matters.

Thus, this means that their meeting rooms are full of more people who come to attend. In this they were saying, "How can we be upon falsehood while we are in this manner of successful living!"

These people were actually those who were concealed in the house of Al-Arqam bin Abi Al-Arqam and its likes from the other houses.

This is as Allah says about them,

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَوْ كَانَ خَيْراً مَّا سَبَقُونَأ إِلَيْهِ

And those who disbelieve say of those who believe:"Had it been a good thing, they (the weak and the poor) would not have preceded us thereto!" (46:11)

Nuh's people said,

أَنُوْمِنُ لَكَ وَاتَّبَعَكَ الاٌّرْذَلُونَ

"Shall we believe in you, when the weakest (of the people) follow you!" (26:111)

And Allah says,

وَكَذلِكَ فَتَنَّا بَعْضَهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ لِّيَقُولواْ أَهَـوُلاءِ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّن بَيْنِنَأ أَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِأَعْلَمَ بِالشَّـكِرِينَ

Thus We have tried some of them with others, that they might say:"Is it these (poor believers) whom Allah has favored among us!" Does not Allah know best those who are grateful! (6:53)