Commentary
And when there was an indication in that that those intended by these verses from the People of the Book are the most misguided of people; and they would say: 'Indeed, they are the most guided of people'; he was astonished by them; denying them after their fabrication of the praise of themselves; so he said: 'Did you not see'; and distanced them; by his saying: 'to those who purify themselves'; meaning: with what is not theirs; from their saying: 'The Fire will not touch us except for a few days' [Al-Baqarah: 80]; and their saying: 'None will enter Paradise except one who is a Jew or a Christian' [Al-Baqarah: 111]; and their saying: 'And they love to be praised for what they did not do' [Aali 'Imran: 188] and 'And those who follow desires want you to deviate greatly' [An-Nisa: 27]; for indeed, distancing others in deviation is a confirmation of their false praise of themselves; and similar to that; from what has preceded and other than it.
And when the meaning of denial was: 'They do not have that; because they lied about it; and they wronged'; he indicated it by his saying: 'Rather, Allah'; meaning: the One who has the attributes of perfection; 'purifies whom He wills'; meaning: with what He has of complete knowledge; and comprehensive power; and profound wisdom; and just fairness; by praising Him; and by creating the meanings of apparent good in Him; so that righteous deeds may arise from them; so if He purifies one of His chosen ones with something; like prophethood; it is for Him to purify Himself with that; based on what benefits the people from Allah; 'And not'; meaning: while those whom He purifies; or elevates; do not 'injustice them a speck'; meaning: the amount that is in the split of a date seed of that thing that is twisted; meaning: little; nor much; because He is All-Knowing of what they deserve; and He is the just judge; free from injustice; because He has the attributes of perfection.
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