Then he was followed by one who was in a stranger condition than them. In the preservation, it was said: "And the one of the fish" meaning remember him when he went away angry, that is, in the manner of one who is angry with his people for abandoning them, and with his Lord for leaving them without waiting for a specific permission from Him to migrate. It has been narrated from al-Hasan that the meaning of "So he thought that We would not be able to him" is that We would not punish him for this sin, meaning he thought that We would act towards him like one who is unable. This is an expression of the necessary by the incidental, similar to the expression of punishment by anger, and of kindness by mercy, and there are many examples of this. This is the best of the sayings and the most correct of them. It was narrated by al-Bayhaqi in the Book of Names and Attributes from Qatadah from him and from Mujahid similarly, and it was also transmitted through another chain from Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them, with this meaning. Al-Asbahani also said from him that its meaning is: We will not impose punishment upon him, and that he also said in meaning: So he thought that We would not restrict him in leaving, from the capacity which we mean by restriction, not from ability. And from him is "So We decreed upon him his provision" [Al-Fajr: 16]. Al-Bayhaqi also narrated from al-Farra' that "We are able" means "We decree" - with emphasis - and we judge. And he recited from Ibn al-Anbari from Abu Sakhr al-Hudhali:

And not returning to that time which has passed, blessed are You, what we are able to happen, and to You belongs the thanks.

"So he called out" meaning our wisdom required that We admonished him until he surrendered and threw himself into the sea, and the fish swallowed him and sank with him to the bottom of the sea. And We prevented him from having food, so he called out "in the darkness" from the belly of the fish which is at the bottom of the sea at night. So they are three darknesses - this was transmitted by Ibn Kathir from Ibn Mas'ud and Ibn Abbas and others, may Allah be pleased with them.

"That there is no deity except You"

And when he glorified Him from having a partner, he said: "Glory be to You" meaning You are exalted above every deficiency, for no one can save from what I am in except You. Then he expressed his request for salvation by saying, attributing to himself from the deficiency that which Allah is exalted from resembling: "Indeed, I was" meaning a great being "of the wrongdoers" meaning in my leaving my people before the permission. So forgive me as is the characteristic of the able ones. And for this reason, Allah, the Exalted, said, causing as a result of his supplication: