Laughing and mocking
They are laughing and mocking this.
وَتَضْحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبْكُونَ
“And you laugh and do not weep”.
A criticism for laughing at this speech هَٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ instead of being moved to tears by its weight and implications.
Context and contrast with 53:43
وَأَنَّهُ هُوَ أَضْحَكَ وَأَبْكَىٰ
“And that it is he who causes laughter and causes crying”.
Who causes laughter and tears?
In this verse laughing and crying are attributed to the people and in the previous verse Allah is the One who causes it. The understanding is that Allah creates reasons to laugh and cry and here He created a reason for people to cry and yet instead they are laughing.
What are they laughing at?
Laughter at this speech هَٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ
This is the Qur’an’s criticism for them laughing at this speech. They are laughing and mocking this and not crying because of the impact that it should have on them, whether that relates to its emotional effect on the listener or due to the consequences and implications of its content and message.
Why do they make it an object of ridicule?
It is their dismissal of the Qur’an alluded to in the previous verse that allows them to make fun of it and make it an object of ridicule.
If they stopped to think about it, they wouldn’t do that.
Misaligned reaction: a visual contrast
Weeping (the warranted response)
He created a reason for people to cry.
Key insights distilled
Created reasons: Allah creates reasons to laugh and cry.
Misplaced response: Here He created a reason to cry, yet they laugh.
Dismissal → ridicule: Their dismissal of the Qur’an enables them to make fun of it.
Pause and think: If they stopped to think about it, they wouldn’t do that.