Ash-Shu'ara Verse 137

This is simply the tradition of our predecessors.

This is nothing but the custom of the former people,

this is nothing but the habit of the ancients,

for we only do what our forefathers used to do:

This in but a custom of the ancients.

"This is no other than a customary device of the ancients,

This has been happening all along.

This is just a habit of antiquated people.

“This is nothing but the tradition of former people.”

These are nothing but the traditions of the ancients,

"This (what we do) is the pattern of conduct of (all our) predecessors.

`This way (of admonition) is merely the manner of the ancients.

That truly that (is) except the first`s/beginner`s nature/character.

“This is nothing but the tradition of former people.”

They said, "It is the same to us if you admonish or are not of those who admonish;

"This is no other than the false-tales and religion of the ancients, [Tafsir At-Tabari, Vol. 19, Page 97]

Surely I fear for you the chastisement of a grievous day.

This is naught but a custom of the ancients;

This is but a fable of the men of old,

your preaching is nothing but ancient legends and we shall not face any torment".

That is nothing but a habit of the ancients,

"This is no other than Khuluq of the ancients,"

this is nothing but a habit of the ancients:

This is nothing but morals of the ancients.

This, that you threaten us with, is merely the fabrication of the ancients, that is, their inventions and lies (a variant reading [for khalq, `fabrication'] is khuluq, `ethos', in other words, this denial of resurrection to which we adhere is merely `the ethos of the ancients', in other words, their nature and wont);

This is no other than Khuluq of the ancients.

Some scholars read this;"Khalq".

According to Ibn Mas`ud and according to Abdullah bin Abbas -- as reported from Al-Awfi -- and Alqamah and Mujahid, they meant,

"What you have brought to us is nothing but the tales (Akhlaq) of the ancients."

This is like what the idolators of Quraysh said;

وَقَالُواْ أَسَـطِيرُ الاٌّوَّلِينَ اكْتَتَبَهَا فَهِىَ تُمْلَى عَلَيْهِ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلً

And they say;"Tales of the ancients, which he has written down, and they are dictated to him morning and afternoon." (25;5)

And Allah said;

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ إِنْ هَـذَا إِلاَّ إِفْكٌ افْتَرَاهُ وَأَعَانَهُ عَلَيْهِ قَوْمٌ ءَاخَرُونَ فَقَدْ جَأءُوا ظُلْماً وَزُوراً

وَقَالُواْ أَسَـطِيرُ الاٌّوَّلِينَ

Those who disbelieve say;"This is nothing but a lie that he has invented, and others have helped him in it. In fact, they have produced an injustice and a lie."

And they say;"Tales of the ancients..." (25;4-5)

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ مَّاذَا أَنزَلَ رَبُّكُمْ قَالُواْ أَسَـطِيرُ الاٌّوَّلِينَ

And when it is said to them;"What is it that your Lord has sent down"

They say;"Tales of the ancient!" (16;24)
Some other scholars recited it,
إِنْ هَذَا إِلاَّ خُلُقُ الاَْوَّلِينَ
(This is no other than Khuluq of the ancients), "as Khuluq,"

meaning their religion.

What they were following was the religion of the ancients, their fathers and grandfathers, as if they were saying;

"We are following them, we will live as they lived and die as they died, and there will be no resurrection and no judgement."

Hence they said;

وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ