أَمْ آتَيْنَاهُمْ كِتَابًا مِنْ قَبْلِهِ فَهُمْ بِهِ مُسْتَمْسِكُونَ ﴿۲۱﴾ بَلْ قَالُوا إِنَّا وَجَدْنَا آبَاءَنَا عَلَى أُمَّةٍ وَإِنَّا عَلَى آثَارِهِمْ مُهْتَدُونَ ﴿۲۲﴾ وَكَذَلِكَ مَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ فِي قَرْيَةٍ مِنْ نَذِيرٍ إِلَّا قَالَ مُتْرَفُوهَا إِنَّا وَجَدْنَا آبَاءَنَا عَلَى أُمَّةٍ وَإِنَّا عَلَى آثَارِهِمْ مُقْتَدُونَ ﴿۲۳﴾ قَالَ أَوَلَوْ جِئْتُكُمْ بِأَهْدَى مِمَّا وَجَدْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ آبَاءَكُمْ قَالُوا إِنَّا بِمَا أُرْسِلْتُمْ بِهِ كَافِرُونَ ﴿۲۴﴾ فَانْتَقَمْنَا مِنْهُمْ فَانْظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ ﴿۲۵﴾

﴾21﴿ Am aatainaahum Kitaaban min qablihee fahum bihee mustamsikoon
﴾22﴿ Bal qaalooo innaa wajadnaaa aabaaa'anaa 'alaaa ummatinw wa innaa 'alaaa aasaarihim muhtadoon
﴾23﴿ Wa kazaalika maaa arsalnaa min qablika fee qaryatim min nazeerin illaa qaala mutrafoohaaa innaa wajadnaaa aabaaa'anaa 'alaaa ummatinw wa innaa 'alaaa aasaarihim muqtadoon
﴾24﴿ Qaala awa law ji'tukum bi ahdaa mimmaa wajatdtum 'alaihi aabaaa'akum qaalooo innaa bimaaa ursiltum bihee kaafiroon
﴾25﴿ Fantaqamnaa minhum fanzur kaifa kaana 'aaqibatul mukazzibee

﴾21﴿ Have We given them a Book before this, to which they are holding firmly as evidence
﴾22﴿ Rather, they say, surely we found our fathers upon a way, and indeed we are guided by following in their footsteps
﴾23﴿ And We did not send a warner to any town before you except that its affluent transgressors said, Surely, we found our fathers upon a way, and indeed we are followers in their footsteps
﴾24﴿ The Prophet said, What if I have brought you guidance better than what you found your fathers upon?" They said, Indeed, we disbelieve in what you have been sent with
﴾25﴿ So We took retribution from them; then see how was the end of the deniers

[21] This is also a rebuke of these acts of disbelief, emphasizing that they have no proof from the Book of Allah—meaning, just as their belief contradicts reason, it also contradicts revelation and divine scripture.
The phrase (آتَيْنَاهُمْ)—“We gave them”—indicates that not every book can be considered a proof in religious matters; only that book is a valid proof which is from Allah the Exalted, whether it be clear revelation (waḥy jalī) or subtle revelation (waḥy khafī).
[22] This is also a rebuke and a refutation of the second argument of the polytheists, which is the following of their forefathers and blind imitation (taqlīd maḥḍ).
[23] This is a refutation of their argument based on following their forefathers, which was also the reasoning used by previous (polytheistic) nations.
As a result, punishments came upon them—thus, it becomes clear that this argument is invalid.
[24] This is a rebuttal from the side of the Messengers against their argument: either you follow guidance or you do not.
If you claim to follow guidance, then I have brought you the complete words of guidance—so why do you not accept them?
[25] This is a warning for the deniers and a consolation for the Messenger of Allah (May Allah bless him and give him peace).