سَيَعلَمونَ غَدًا مَنِ الكَذّابُ الأَشِرُ

Tomorrow they will know who is a self-conceited liar.

EXEGESIS

Tomorrow could be a reference to the Day of Judgement[1] or to the day when the punishment would befall them.[2] On that day, it will be made clear to everyone whether Prophet Ṣāliḥ (a) was a self-conceited liar or was it actually themselves, who denied him. This is a rhetorical statement indicating that it is in fact they who are the self-conceited liars.[3] In addition to that, it is a highly threatening statement.

EXPOSITION

This verse as well as the next two verses is the response that Allah gave to Prophet Ṣāliḥ (a). According to some exegetes, the people had already seen Prophet Ṣāliḥ (a) perform miracles and thus they knew that he was the chosen apostle, so why then does the Quran mention Tomorrow they will know? It is because knowledge is gradational and has different stages. At some levels, one may be able to reject that which he knows. However, there are levels of knowledge where things become absolutely clear and leave no room for doubt, and thus no one can reject what they know at that level. It is this type of knowledge that is intended here.[4]

[1] Munyah, 27/209; Tabrisi, 9/289.
[2] Mizan, 19/80; Ibn Ashur, 27/190.
[3] Munyah, 27/209.
[4] Amthal, 17/327.