Meaning, you will see and the disbelievers will see, which of you is afflicted by madness.

We should note that the Arabic word of (Which of you) in this verse begins with the Arabic preposition (bi), which some consider it a superfluous letter. Those people should beware of saying that the Holy Quran contains a one superfluous letter because this indicates that the meaning of the Quranic sentence can be completed without any need of some letters. This is untrue in the Holy Quran. Instead, we should say: “We do not know the reason of the existence of this letter”. The ancient Arabs heard the Prophet (saws) reciting this verse and none of them argued that the usage of this preposition is incorrect otherwise, they would have declared it as the Holy Quran challenged them to bring even one verse similar to its verses. This proves that wording of the Holy Quran completely consistent with the Original Arabic language.

Therefore, this Arabic letter (bi) becomes to play a role in the question. Some scholars said that (the afflicted) refers to Satan because he leads anyone under his control to affliction. In describing this situation Allah (swt) says:

 الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ الرِّبَا لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ الَّذِي يَتَخَبَّطُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ مِنَ الْمَسِّ ۚ

(Those who consume interest cannot stand [on the Day of Resurrection] except as one stands who is being beaten by Satan into insanity.) (Al-Baqara: 275)

So that, Allah’s words can never include any superfluous letters, if any letter is omitted, the meaning will not achieve its required purpose.

Some scholars said that this preposition (bi) means the meaning of (in). Accordingly the meaning of this verse is: In which parties of you is the affliction?.

On the other hand, in this same Arabic word of (Which of you) there is a doubled letter of (ya). This to indicate that the disbeliever’s transgression has exceeded all levels. Therefore, they are the insane people and the Prophet (saws) cannot be describes with insanity. He (saws) has the utmost morals and whoever accuses him with insanity is indeed the one who is insane.

In this point, we have to emphasize a very important point about using the Arabic language correctly in explaining the Holy Quran. That is because to be specialized in the Arabic language is very important for the one who want to interpret the Holy Quran. Allah (swt) says:

  إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ قُرْآنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ 

(Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’an that you might understand.) (Yusuf: 2)

Hence, anyone who wants to interpret the Holy Quran should be qualified with the Arabic language, otherwise he is not entitled to explain the Quran. All the adopted books about the interpretation of the Holy Quran have been approved according to approved required standards, such are: Explaining the Quran by the Quran, Explaining the Quran by the Hadiths of the Prophet (saws), Explaining the Quran according to the rules of the Arabic language.