And when that was completed, it was as if it was said: So they did not return and did not refrain from a clear proof, nor from desire, nor from fear. So We sent down upon them Our command. (And when Our command came) meaning: the time of Our will to destroy 'Aad. (We saved) meaning: a great salvation by what We have of greatness. (Hud and those who believed) being (with him) in faith and salvation from their people. They were not able to reach them with harm despite their striving in that and their admiration of their strength. It is said that those who believed were four thousand.

And when He, glorified and exalted is He, is in a position where nothing is obligatory upon Him from anyone, for no one can truly estimate Him as He deserves, even if they strive in His obedience. For His obedience is a blessing from Him upon them. He indicated this by His saying: (By a mercy from Us) affirming the reliance of Our servant. And when He clarified their salvation from their people, He clarified their salvation from what He destroyed them with. He said (repeating the mention of salvation as an indication that their punishment was of the utmost severity): (And We saved them) meaning: by what We have of greatness. He clarified the severity of what He destroyed their enemies with by saying: (from a severe punishment) meaning: We destroyed their opposers with it, which is the violent wind. This is more appropriate than interpreting it as the punishment of the Hereafter due to what will come from His saying: (and from the disgrace of that Day) [Hud: 66]. It is as if they would, when they saw the signs of punishment, turn to their Prophet and those who believed in him to destroy them before them, as it was explicitly stated in the story of Salih. And salvation is safety from destruction. And the reality of severity is the greatness of the body, thus it was borrowed for punishment due to its heaviness upon the soul and the length of its duration.