And when the meaning of exception is that He will not punish them; and that they will find the intercessor by His permission; He said - affirming this in a way of inference; denying those who thought that He would not accept them after being drowned in calamities -: "What does Allah do"; meaning: He is characterized by the attributes of perfection; among which is absolute richness; "with your punishment"; meaning: O people; for it does not bring Him any benefit; nor does it avert from Him any harm; And when the address was with those who believed; He said: "If you are grateful"; meaning: for His blessings; among the greatest of which is the sending down of the guiding Book to the right guidance; saving from every misguidance; clarifying all that the servants need; so your reflection on its state leads to the knowledge of its bestower; so you submitted to Him; and you rushed to His obedience; with sincerity in your worship of Him; and you distanced yourselves from His disobedience.

And when gratitude is the motivator for faith; He placed it before it; and when it is not accepted except with it; He said: "And you believed"; meaning: in Him with a pure faith; in which the heart agrees with what the tongue has expressed; And when the meaning of denial is that He will not punish you; rather He will be grateful for that; He said - adding to it -: "And Allah was"; meaning: the Lord of glory and honor; eternally and forever; "grateful"; to whoever is grateful to Him; by rewarding him for his obedience beyond what he deserves; "Knowing"; of whoever has done something for Him; even if it is small; there is no oversight or mistake upon Him; nor confusion.