Tafseer of The Cloaked One · Al-Muddaththir · 74:15
Then he desires that I should add more.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
His statement: ثُمَّ يَطْمَعُ أَنْ أَزِيدَ ("Then he covets that I should give more") — the Exalted, whose praise is mentioned, says: then he desires and hopes that I should give him still more wealth and children, in addition to what I have already given him. كَلا ("By no means") — He says: it is not as he desires and hopes, namely that I should give him more wealth, more children, and more prosperity in the worldly life. إِنَّهُ كَانَ لآيَاتِنَا عَنِيدًا ("Verily, he was obstinate toward Our signs") — He says: verily, this one whom I alone created was obstinate toward Our signs — and these are the proofs of Allah for His creatures, consisting of the Books and the messengers — obstinate (ʿanīd), that is to say: resisting the truth and shunning it, like the obstinate camel (al-baʿīr al-ʿanūd). To this belongs the statement of the poet:
"When I dismount, place me then in the middle; verily, I am old and can no longer manage the obstinate ones (al-ʿunnad)."
And in agreement with what we have said concerning this, the people of interpretation (ahl al-taʾwīl) also spoke.
* Mention of who said that: