Commentary
And when it was established that the harmful and beneficial is only Allah; whoever He wills, He gives it to him; and whoever He wills, He withholds it from him; and whoever He wills, He takes it away and places it down; after having raised it up; and the decree was: "Did they not know that what was gathered by those before them did not avert the command of Allah?" He referred to this with His saying: ﴿Or did﴾; and when the context is to negate knowledge from most; and the purpose of the Surah is to clarify that He is truthful in His promise; and absolute knowledge is sufficient in it; He expressed it with knowledge; unlike what was mentioned in "Ar-Rum"; for He said: ﴿They know﴾; meaning: by what they saw in their lifetimes from experiences; and the speech was directed to the Greatest Name; to glorify the status; and to dispel confusion; and stubbornness; with utmost clarity; ﴿That Allah﴾; meaning: the One who has majesty; and beauty; ﴿Expands﴾; meaning: He alone; ﴿The provision﴾; to the utmost extent of expansion; ﴿For whom He wills﴾; even if he has no means; nor strength; ﴿And He restricts﴾; meaning: He constricts; with hardship; by a compelling matter; upon one who is the widest of people in means; and the most capable among them in states; and it is known that if all of this were not from Him alone; no one who has strength in body; and capability in knowledge would be poor at all.
And when this is a matter that no one denies; he considered it accepted; and said: ﴿Indeed in that﴾; meaning: the great matter; and he confirmed it because their actions are the actions of one who denies that there is a lesson in it; ﴿Are signs for a people﴾; of strength; and lofty aspirations; ﴿Who believe﴾; meaning: they are prepared for faith to exist among them; so they renew their affirmation at all times; with a continuous renewal; that all matters are from Allah; so they fear Him; and hope for Him; and thank Him; and do not disbelieve in Him; and as for others, the word has been established against him; by what has been prepared for him of the deeds of the Fire; so faith is not possible for him; for he has no signs in that; because they do not benefit him.
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