And when he mentioned their refinement of themselves for the creation and the Creator, he indicated that there is no admiration among them, rather they are fearful. The one who carries them towards that is the belief in the Hereafter, which the ignorant have denied. "They give what they give while their hearts are fearful that they will return to their Lord" [Al-Mu'minun: 60]. They have presented supplication for salvation, concerned with averting the harm, and indicating that they are deserving of that, even if they strive, due to their shortcoming in being able to estimate Him, glorified is He, as He truly deserves. He said: "And those who say, 'Our Lord'" meaning, 'O You who are good to us, "turn away from us the punishment of Hell" which has surrounded us due to our deserving of it, unless Your pardon and mercy encompass us, by which You grant us the ability to meet those who harm us with a pleasant face, not with frowning. Then he explained their request by their saying: "Indeed, its punishment was" meaning, it is a state that it was created upon. "A lasting punishment" meaning, destruction and persistent loss that surrounds whoever is attached to it, humiliating him, always with whoever incites him to it, binding to him and never separating from him. And we used to walk upon those who harmed us.