Am yaqooloona iftarahu qul ini iftaraytuhu fala tamlikoona lee mina Allahi shay-an (surah Ahqaf: 8)

Tafseer Tafheem-ul-Quran by Syed Abu-al-A'la Maududi

(46:8) Do they claim that the Messenger himself has fabricated it? *9 (If so), tell them: 'If I have fabricated it, then you have no power to protect me from Allah's chastisement. He knows well the idle talk in which you indulge. He suffices as a witness between me and you. *10 He is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.' *11

Am yaqooloonaf taraahu qul inif taraituhoo falaa tamlikoona lee minal laahi shai`an Huwa a`lamu bimaa tufeedoona feehi kafaa bihee shaheedam bainee wa bainakum wa Huwal Ghafoorur Raheem

*9) This interrogative tone expresses great surprise and amazement. It means to say: "Are these people so shameless that they accuse Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace) of fabricating the Qur'an himself? Whereas they know that it cannot be his word; and their calling it magic is by itself an express proof that they regard it as an extraordinary word, which cannot be of human composition even according to themselves."
*10) As it was quite evident that their accusation was baseless and motivated by stubbornness, there was no need to present arguments to refute it. Therefore, only this much was regarded as a sufficient response: 'If I have really fabricated something and committed a grave crime by imputing it to Allah, as you accuse me of, you will not be able to rescue me from Allah's punishment. But if it is really Allah's Word, and you are rejecting it by bringing false accusations, Allah Himself will deal with you. For the reality is not hidden from Allah, and He is sufficient to decide between the truth and falsehood. If the whole world calls some one a liar, although he is truthful in Allah's knowledge, the final decision will be in his favour. On the country: if the whole world regards some one as truthful though he is a liar in the knowledge of AIIah, he will be regarded as a liar in the final judgement. Therefore, do not confuse things but pay heed to your final end."
*11) Here, this sentence gives two meanings: (1) "It is in fact Allah's mercy and His forbearance that these people arc surviving in the world, although they have no hesitation in declaring Allah's Word as falsehood; otherwise if a merciless and cruel god had been the master of this universe, he would not have allowed such insolent people to live even for a moment in the world. " (2) "O unjust people, if you give up your stubbornness even now, the door of God's mercy is still open for you, and whatever misdeeds you may have committed heretofore can be forgiven."