Denying The Akhirah
Yes so in their hearts they could accept it. Like they did find the idea of it rational. But because they had to deny it just for the sake of denying, so they gave these lame excuses. Have I understood it correctly?
We DO come across such people today who are in denial. In fact, they deny everything including human free will because they want to deny the existence of God and the day of judgement. In today’s terminology they’re known as the new atheists.
Yes but those people did seem to believe in God. Then how does it make sense for them to believe in God but not the Akhirah? Edit (those belonging to the previous nations).