Commentary
And when the judgment is apparent on all of mankind, and in reality - due to the matter being free of the surah in the strength of the particular - it is on some of them. However, when the general was released, it was understood that the intended is the majority. He explained that the "al" is not a surah justifying its carrying, presenting the punishment as an indication that the traitors are more. [Pointing the phrase to the Greatest Name to diversify the speech into majesty and beauty]: ﴿So that Allah may punish﴾ meaning the Greatest King due to the betrayal in the trust. He preceded [from the traitors] those most deserving of it by saying: ﴿the hypocrites and the hypocritical﴾ meaning those who outwardly show the giving of the trust falsely and deceitfully while they are carrying it, deeply rooted in hypocrisy. ﴿And the polytheists and the polytheistic﴾ meaning those who openly carry it and prevent it from its rightful owners [and they are deeply rooted in polytheism and do not repent from it].
And when the presentation of the punishment implies that the traitors are more, he indicated that the sincere are very rare by saying: ﴿And Allah will accept repentance﴾ meaning by His greatness ﴿from the believers﴾ meaning those deeply rooted in the description of faith and they are the steadfast upon it until death ﴿and the believing women﴾ the sinners and others, so He guides them to give it after carrying it. [Thus, the verse is from the interweaving: he mentioned the punishment first as evidence of the bliss second, and the repentance second as evidence of its prevention first] meaning he presented this presentation and ruled this [judgment] to punish and bestow with an argument that people recognize among themselves.
And when this indicates that there is no one except that he has carried it at some time, it was a motivator for the hearts and a deterrent for the souls. He said, comforting it and encouraging: ﴿And Allah was﴾ meaning according to His greatness and majesty and vengeance and kingship and power ﴿Forgiving﴾ meaning erasing the sins of the repentant in action and potential, both in essence and effect ﴿Merciful﴾ meaning honoring them with types of honor after returning from wrongdoing. And when the Prophet ﷺ commanded at the beginning of it with piety, he commanded at its conclusion with that in a general manner, and he threatened the dissenters and the hypocrites whom he forbade at the beginning from obeying them. He concluded with the attributes of forgiveness and mercy just as he concluded at the beginning with them the verse of error and intention. They have met, embraced, agreed, and matched - and Allah speaks the truth and [He] guides to the way, and He knows best what is right.
Explore Other Scholars on This Verse
Compare different scholarly perspectives on Surah Al-Ahzab verse 73