﴿ فَٱسْتَفْتِهِمْ أَهُمْ أَشَدُّ خَلْقًا أَم مَّنْ خَلَقْنَآ ۚ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَٰهُم مِّن طِينٍۢ لَّازِبٍۭ ﴾

“AND NOW ask those [who deny the truth] to enlight­en thee: Were they more difficult to create than all those [untold marvels] that We have created? - for, behold, them have We created out of [mere] clay commingled with water!”

So ask them in other words inquire of the people of Mecca for affirmation or by way of rebuke Are they stronger as a creation or those others whom We created? of angels heavens the two earths and all that is in them the use of man ‘those whom’ in man khalaqnā indicates that the reference is predominantly to other rational creatures. Indeed We created them that is their origin Adam from a viscous clay that sticks to the hand. The intended meaning is that their physical make-up is fragile so let them not behave arrogantly by rejecting the Prophet and the Qur’ān a fact which will result in their — easily accomplished — destruction.