Tafsir of Surah Fussilat | quranmazid.com

إِذْجَآءَتْهُمُٱلرُّسُلُمِنۢبَيْنِأَيْدِيهِمْوَمِنْخَلْفِهِمْأَلَّاتَعْبُدُوٓا۟إِلَّاٱللَّهَقَالُوا۟لَوْشَآءَرَبُّنَالَأَنزَلَمَلَٰٓئِكَةًفَإِنَّابِمَآأُرْسِلْتُمبِهِۦكَٰفِرُونَ ١٤

Saheeh International

[That occurred] when the messengers had come to them before them and after them, [saying], "Worship not except Allah ." They said, "If our Lord had willed, He would have sent down the angels, so indeed we, in that with which you have been sent, are disbelievers."

ar: Tabari Tafseer

en: Ibn Kathir

Tafseer 'Ibn Kathir' (EN)

إِذْ جَاءتْهُمُ الرُّسُلُ مِن بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ

When the Messengers came to them, from before them and behind them,

This is like the Ayah:

وَاذْكُرْ أَخَا عَادٍ إِذْ أَنذَرَ قَوْمَهُ بِالاٌّحْقَافِ وَقَدْ خَلَتِ النُّذُرُ مِن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ

And remember (Hud) the brother of `Ad, when he warned his people in Al-Ahqaf. And surely, there have passed away warners before him and after him. (46:21)

which means that in the neighboring towns and cities, Allah sent Messengers who commanded the people to worship Allah Alone with no partner or associate, and they brought good news as well as warnings. They saw the punishment Allah sent upon His enemies, and the blessings which He bestowed upon His friends, yet despite all of this, they did not believe in them.

أَلاَّ تَعْبُدُوا إِلاَّ اللَّهَ

قَالُوا

(saying):"Worship none but Allah," they said:

On the contrary, they denied them and rejected them, and said:

لَوْ شَاء رَبُّنَا لَاَنزَلَ مَلَيِكَةً

If our Lord had so willed, He would surely have sent down the angels.

meaning, if Allah were to send Messengers, they would be angels sent from His presence.

فَإِنَّا بِمَا أُرْسِلْتُمْ بِهِ كَافِرُونَ

So, indeed we disbelieve in that with which you have been sent.

means, `because you are a mere human; we will not follow you because you are just men like us.