إِذا تُتلىٰ عَلَيهِ آياتُنا قالَ أَساطيرُ الأَوَّلينَ

When Our signs are recited to him, he says: ‘Myths of the ancients!’

EXPOSITION

The use of the verb tutlā (recited) may suggest that the word āyātunā (Our signs) refers to the verses of the Quran and not to the signs of God.^{‎[1]Mizan, 20/233; Tabrisi, 10/688.} The verse indicates that when the verses of the Quran are recited to the vicious transgressors warning them about the resurrection, the Day of Judgement, and the severe consequences of their actions, they reply by saying that these are mythical stories.^{‎[2]Mizan, 20/233.} Their response is not based on reasoning; rather, it is a consequence of their actions which leads to veiling their hearts from seeing the truth, and hinders their reasoning as indicated by the following verse: There are some of them who prick up their ears at you, but We have cast veils on their hearts lest they should understand it, and a deafness into their ears; and though they should see every sign, they will not believe in it. When they come to you, to dispute with you, the faithless say: ‘These are nothing but myths of the ancients’ (6:25). It is common to all those who deny the truth – and faith all together – to claim that it is not but Myths of the ancients. Although this false argument is very old it is still being used today.

[1] Mizan, 20/233; Tabrisi, 10/688.
[2] Mizan, 20/233.