16. It is reported that the Prophet recited these two verses to Abu Jahl (while they were passing together between two hills). Abu Jahl replied, “Muhammad, Do you threaten me? You and your Lord have no power over me. I am the most honored person of those who ever walked between these two hills" (Ibn Jarir, Qurtubi).

17. That is, without being commanded and prohibited (Ibn Jarir from the Salaf, Qurtubi, Ibn Kathir).

According to Razi another connotation is the questioning in the Hereafter. Does man think he will not be questioned? If so, then it means Lord our God is unmindful of whatever the humans do on this earth; which is unthinkable (seeing that such an absurd idea – of unquestionable freedom – is unacceptable to the humans themselves).

18. Of course, every sperm drop is emitted, so why did Allah Most High add the word emitted? The answer is, says Razi, it is to remind man of the moment when he was emitted: an insignificant thing.

Majid adds: “Incidentally, this repudiates the doctrine of the sanctity of human semen. Even Christian sects have been known to deify the seminal secretion. The Carpocrations, for instance, while forbidding procreation, ‘divinized the spermatic fluid. It is quite probable that the Cathers were given to similar excesses, and specially that his disciples, the troubadours, were.’ (Dr. Rongemont, Passion and Society, p. 111).”

19. Although sex-determination process in a growing fetus is known to the scientists, and well researched, but no one ever knows, firstly, why there are two sexes, and, secondly, why is it that they appear in the same proportion in any human population; the female is around 95 for every 100 male.

20. It is reported that when the Prophet ended with the recitation of these verses he would respond with,

سُبحانَكَ بَلى

“Glory to You, surely yes” (Ibn Jarir, Kashshaf, Qurtubi).

Ibn Kathir quotes several other ahadith to this effect, but Albani declared them weak (S. Ibrahim).