And when He mentioned him - glorified and exalted is He - regarding what was in that of his guidance - blessings and peace be upon him and his family -; He followed it by clarifying that it was indeed by the protection of Allah for him; so that he would increase in gratitude; He said (the Most High): "And if We had not made you steadfast"; meaning: by what We have of greatness; upon what We commanded; for it has preceded that We are with those who are God-fearing and those who are doers of good; and you are the head of the God-fearing; and the doers of good; "You were about"; meaning: you were close; "to lean towards them"; meaning: the enemies; "a little"; due to your love for their guidance; and your eagerness for their benefit; and We had protected you; so you did not lean towards them; not even a little; nor did you approach that; as indicated by "if not"; for it enters upon a nominal sentence; and a verbal sentence; to link the negation of the second with the existence of the first; so the negation of the proximity of leaning is related to the existence of the steadfastness; and that is because "if not"; is for the negation of the second for the sake of the negation of the first; and here it is entering upon "no"; the negating one; so it is for the negation of the proximity of leaning; for the sake of the negation of the negation of the steadfastness; and the negation of the negation is existence; so indeed the steadfastness is present; and the proximity of leaning is negated; and it is permissible that what is meant is to indicate the intensity of their plotting; and the culmination of their deception to a state that cannot be described; so the action is attributed to him - blessings and peace be upon him and his family -; and what is meant is to attribute it to them; so that the meaning is: they almost made you close to leaning towards them; as you say to your companion: "You were about to kill yourself"; meaning: you did something by which you were close to being killed by another; due to your action; and this verse is one of the clear proofs of what the Prophet - blessings and peace be upon him and his family - was specifically granted of virtues in the honor of his essence; and the purity of his element; and the superiority of his intellect; and the goodness of his origin; for it indicated that he - blessings and peace be upon him and his family - if he were entrusted to himself; and what Allah created in his nature; and his disposition; from the complete instincts; and the noble qualities; and if he had not been aided by what He granted him of steadfastness in addition to that; at the time of prophethood; he would not have leaned towards them - while they are the most intense of people in thought; and the purest of them in understanding; and the most knowledgeable of them in deception; despite their great number; and their immense patience; and their endurance - not leaning at all; and their utmost would be to approach leaning a little; so glorified is He who chooses whom He wills for what He wills; and He is the Possessor of great favor.