In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Amazing Firmness Based On Certainty In Times of Great Trial In One’s Eemaan

After mentioning the Eemaan and guidance bestowed upon them by Allaah [i.e. in Aayaat 13 and 14], they (i.e. the young men) then addressed what their people were upon. Their people used to ascribe partners to Allaah in worship, so they detested them and clarified that their (beliefs, acts of worship etc) were not based on certainty; rather they were upon extreme ignorance and misguidance. Allaah said that the young men said:

[هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ قَوۡمُنَا ٱتَّخَذُواْ مِن دُونِهِۦۤ ءَالِهَةً۬‌ۖ لَّوۡلَا يَأۡتُونَ عَلَيۡهِم بِسُلۡطَـٰنِۭ بَيِّنٍ۬‌ۖ فَمَنۡ أَظۡلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفۡتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبً۬ا – These our people have taken for worship aliha (gods) other than Him (Allah). Why do they not bring for them a clear authority? And who does more wrong than he who invents a lie against Allah]. [18:15]

[لَّوۡلَا يَأۡتُونَ عَلَيۡهِم بِسُلۡطَـٰنِۭ بَيِّنٍ۬‌ۖ  – Why do they not bring for them a clear authority?]- Meaning: Bring Hujjah [i.e. clear and overwhelming proofs that would show the correctness of what they are upon and the falsehood of their opponents] and Burhaan [i.e. evidences that clarify and distinguish between truth and falsehood from every angle]; however they have no way of doing so, rather they only invent a lie against Allaah and this is the greatest type of oppression. This is why Allaah said that the young men said: [فَمَنۡ أَظۡلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفۡتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبً۬ا – And who does more wrong than he who invents a lie against Allah].

[An Excerpt from ‘Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam al-Mannaan. Slightly paraphrased].