The pronoun “ they” as well as the words “ in it “ are advanced to show the intensity of disagreement on part of these people specifically regarding this specific topic. They are not in as intense a disagreement over any subject as they are regarding this one.
This can also be for the sake of ( تعجيب amazement). They are in disagreement over
this subject? If there is something that is known to be true, yet someone disagrees with it, we display wonder at that person. How could you possibly disagree with it when it’s a known fact? Same is the case here. This is a known and firm fact and as we will see, this surah itself will prove it.
The use of the word ( مختلفون in disagreement) to make it a nominal sentence shows constant, continuous and longstanding disagreement.
Now how is being in a disagreement related to mocking it? Their disagreement is over the nature of its falsehood, not whether it is true or not. For example, they called prophet Muhammad ﷺ a number of things. Some said he is a madman, some said he is possessed by a demon; some said he is a poet or a magician, while others accused him of being taught the Qurʾān from someone else. They called him a number of different things to come up with explanations, and then debated among themselves which of these is true. Same is the case here. They call this great hidden news, which the Qurʾān has not yet specified what it is, a number of different false things and this is their way of mocking it, because the idea that it could be true is never brought up among them to be even considered. Imagine them in their gathering, with some calling the Prophet ﷺ a madman, some a magician, some saying he is demon-possessed; and then disagreeing which of these is really the case. This is mockery at its peak. The fact that he might be true is never brought up to be sincerely discussed.
Regarding what they are in disagreement
The pronoun “ they” as well as the words “ in it “ are advanced to show the intensity of disagreement on part of these people specifically regarding this specific topic. They are not in as intense a disagreement over any subject as they are regarding this one.
This can also be for the sake of ( تعجيب amazement). They are in disagreement over
this subject? If there is something that is known to be true, yet someone disagrees with it, we display wonder at that person. How could you possibly disagree with it when it’s a known fact? Same is the case here. This is a known and firm fact and as we will see, this surah itself will prove it.
The use of the word ( مختلفون in disagreement) to make it a nominal sentence shows constant, continuous and longstanding disagreement.
Now how is being in a disagreement related to mocking it? Their disagreement is over the nature of its falsehood, not whether it is true or not. For example, they called prophet Muhammad ﷺ a number of things. Some said he is a madman, some said he is possessed by a demon; some said he is a poet or a magician, while others accused him of being taught the Qurʾān from someone else. They called him a number of different things to come up with explanations, and then debated among themselves which of these is true. Same is the case here. They call this great hidden news, which the Qurʾān has not yet specified what it is, a number of different false things and this is their way of mocking it, because the idea that it could be true is never brought up among them to be even considered. Imagine them in their gathering, with some calling the Prophet ﷺ a madman, some a magician, some saying he is demon-possessed; and then disagreeing which of these is really the case. This is mockery at its peak. The fact that he might be true is never brought up to be sincerely discussed.