And when the flood reached - in their riding of falsehood out of stubbornness - the peaks; and it exceeded in its tyranny the tops of the hills; and their asking for hastening the punishment was mockery; along with what they had previously presented of denial; and the words far from the truth; perhaps it necessitated that they be asked for the hastening of what they requested; and perhaps they were led to believe that their turning away and being tested by them might be for something in the message; or the one conveying it; Allah, glorified and exalted is He, made clear that His custom is to test the righteous; as an elevation of their ranks; so He said - comforting; and consoling; and providing solace to this noble Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, with those who preceded him from his brothers, the prophets and messengers; reminding him of what they endured from hardships; and what they faced from trials; and urging him to act according to their deeds; commanding patience; and deliberation; and forbearance; and warning against haste; and annoyance; and impatience; and He began with the people of honor; because the context is for the honor of the Qur'an; which necessitates the honor of its possessor; indicating that it is not necessary from honor to have comfort in this world; and alerting that his honor requires closeness through the multitude of followers to the judgment between those with disputes; which cannot be established except with forbearance; and deliberation; and patience; and He began with the people of honor with one whose beginning was like the beginning of this noble Prophet; in the weakening of his people towards him; and his end was a king firmly established; awe-inspiring in authority; so that his condition would be an example for him; and thus he would achieve complete consolation -: "Be patient"; and He indicated with the letter of elevation to the greatness of patience; and He said: "upon what"; and He increased in urging it with the present tense; so He said: "they say"; meaning: they renew his saying at every moment; from the painful and distressing words; that bring tears; for it is not due to any deficiency in you; but rather for wisdoms that are beyond description; revolving around the increase of your honor; and the elevation of your ranks; and He directed the speech to the station of greatness; necessitating what is mentioned from the subjugation for that: "And mention Our servant"; meaning: the one whom We have dedicated for Us; and he dedicated himself to contemplating Our greatness; and serving Us; and He replaced him; or clarified him with His saying: "David, the possessor of strength"; meaning: the great strength in freeing himself from the bonds of bodies; so his strength was a cause for his ascension to the great ranks.

And when the greatest struggle is the rescue from the pits of mistakes and the commands of desires, by ascending in the degrees of perfections and the heights of acceptance; and since this is hardly found among humans due to what they are surrounded by from desires and what is ingrained in their natures from heedlessness; he attributed his strength to his saying - affirming -: ﴿Indeed, he is oft-returning﴾; meaning: one who returns to Allah (glorified and exalted is He); to become what He created him upon of the best stature, by pure intellect; he released the elevation degree by degree upon returning; because that is below the rank which would be the end at death; so it is as if what was decreed for him caused him to lower himself from it; then he began to return to it every moment, through what he endures from struggles, confrontations, and attempts; until he reached it after being stripped of all desires.