How were the people of 'Ad intelligent, yet they said, "Who is mightier than us in strength?" and did not realize that Allah, who created them, is mightier than them in strength?

The word "mustabṣireen" (مستبصرين) means "those who see" or "those who are insightful," with the letters "seen" (س) and "taa" (ت) serving for emphasis. It indicates the attainment of knowledge and clarity. This term was used in the Quran to describe the peoples of 'Ad and Thamud. Scholars have differed on the nature of their insight (istibṣār), offering four main opinions:

1. The First Opinion: They had insight and knowledge regarding their false religion and creed, admiring it and believing they were upon truth. This is what Ibn Abbas, Mujahid, and Qatadah stated, and Ibn Jarir al-Tabari preferred it. 2. The Second Opinion: They knew that what they were upon was false and that the truth was with the messengers. They had insight into their misguidance but preferred error over guidance. This is what Imam al-Qurtubi and Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah preferred. 3. The Third Opinion: Their insight was only in worldly matters, such as construction, industry, agriculture, and trade, while they were ignorant of matters concerning their afterlife. This is the view held by العلامة al-Shanqeeti. 4. The Fourth Opinion: They were intelligent, with mental experience and expertise, but their intellect did not guide them to follow truth and guidance. This is what al-Farra' transmitted, and some exegetes followed him in this view.

The first opinion, supported by the narrations of the Companions and the Tabi'in, is the most probable.