قُلْ مَن كَانَ فِي الضَّلَالَةِ فَلْيَمْدُدْ لَهُ الرَّحْمَنُ مَدًّا حَتَّى إِذَا رَأَوْا مَا يُوعَدُونَ
إِمَّا الْعَذَابَ وَإِمَّا السَّاعَةَ فَسَيَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ هُوَ شَرٌّ مَّكَانًا وَأَضْعَفُ جُندًا
“…when they behold what they were promised, either the chastisement (in this world), or the hour (of doom), they shall know who is worst in position and who is weakest in forces”
Imam Sadiq (as) said, “When our clear signs are recited to them, those who disbelieve say to those who believe: ‘Which of the two parties is best in position? Which is the best in assembly?” (Chapter 19 verse 73).
The Messenger of Allah (sawa) invited the Quraysh to (accept) our Wilayat but they refused and denied it.
So “those who disbelieve” from among the Quraysh said to “those who believe” in the Wilayat of the Commander of the Believers (as) and (the Wilayat of) the Ahlul Bayt (as) “Which of the two parties is best in position? Which is the best in assembly?” (And by saying this) they mocked (the believers).
However, Allah replied to them by saying, “How many generations We destroyed before them” from the previous nations “who were (even) better in wealth and splendor” (Chapter 19 verse 74)?
I (Abu Baseer) asked, What do the words of Allah in this verse mean, “Say (O Mohammed) ‘Whosoever is in error, Ar-Rahman shall verily prolong his span of life”(Chapter 19 verse 75)?
Imam (as) replied, They all went astray and they did not believe in the Wilayat of the Commander of the Believers (as) nor in our Wilayat. Therefore, they went astray and led the people astray. Allah prolongs their span of delusion and oppression until the time of their death, and then He will take them to the worst of destinations where they will find no helper.
I asked, What does this verse mean, “When they behold what they were promised” (Chapter 19 verse 75)?
Imam (as) replied, (This part of the verse) refers to the rising of the Qaem (as) which is “the hour” mentioned (earlier) in this verse. On that day, they will see the (torment) that will befall them from Allah through the Qaem (as). That is why Allah says, “They shall know who is worst in position and who is weakest in forces” in the eyes of the Qaem (as).
I asked, What does this verse mean, “Allah increases in guidance those who are guided aright” (Chapter 19 verse 76)?
Imam (as) replied, This means by following and believing in the Qaem (as) without denying his rights, Allah will increase His guidance of (“those who are guided aright”) beyond the existing guidance.
I asked, What does this verse mean, “They shall have no power of intercession, save he who has taken a covenant from Ar-Rahman” (Chapter 19 verse 87)?”
Imam (as) replied, “It means that (“they shall have no power of intercession”), except those who worship Allah by accepting the Wilayat of Ameerul Momeneen (as) and the Wilayat of the Imams from his sons (as) after him. (Believing in the Wilayat of the Commander of the Believers and the Imams from his sons) is the covenant with Allah.”
I asked, What does this verse mean, “Verily those who believe and do good deeds Ar-Rahman will appoint for them love” (Chapter 19 verse 96)?
Imam (as) replied, The Wilayat of the Commander of the Believers (as) is the “love” to which Allah refers in this verse.
I asked, What does this verse mean, “So We have made this easy in your tongue, that you may thereby give glad tidings to the pious ones, and warn thereby the people who are contentious” (Chapter 19 verse 97)?
Imam (as) replied, Verily Allah made it “easy” for the Prophet (sawa) when he appointed the Commander of the Believers (as) as a standard and he gave “glad tidings” to the believers. He warned the disbelievers, and they are those whom Allah mentions in this verse as “the people who are contentious.” (Al Kafi volume 1 page 431)