15 Preface وَاستَفتَحوا وَخابَ كُلُّ جَبّارٍ عَنيدٍYusuf AliBut they sought victory and decision1 (there and then), and frustration was the lot of every powerful obstinate transgressor.2Cf. 8:19. 1 have assumed that “they” in this verse is the same as “them” in the preceding verse, i.e., the ungodly. Hoping for victory, they forced a decision, and they got it-against themselves. Or they challenged a punishment, and it came in good time. Some Commentators construe “they” here to mean “the Prophets”; in that case the verse would mean: “The Prophets prayed for a victory and decision, and the ungodly were frustrated in their efforts to suppress the Truth.”Cf. 11:59.