Overall meaning : What, then, is the matter with these unbelieving idolaters that they are turning away from the Qur’an, as though they were terrified wild donkeys running away from a lion or archers!
These idolaters are neither satisfied with such warning, nor are they willing to heed it; rather, each one of them desires, out of sheer stubbornness, that Allah should send down to him an open book in which He commands him to follow the Prophet! By no means will We grant their demands (for the unbelievers told Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, that they would never believe him until he brought each man an open book from the heavens to this effect). The truth is that they do not fear the punishment of Allah in the life to come, nor do they believe in the resurrection, nor in Hell nor in Paradise. Contrary to their erroneous claim that the Qur’an is magic that Muhammad transmits from other sorcerers and that is it merely the words of a human being, it is indeed an eloquent admonition from Allah; whoever, therefore, wishes to pay heed and be admonished by the Qur’an should do so. However, none will be admonished by it except by the will of Allah. He alone is worthy to be feared by His servants and His wrath and punishment are worthy to be avoided, and He alone is worthy to forgive the sins of His servants and show mercy to them.