And when it was intended by mentioning the miracles of Jesus - peace be upon him - to alert the disbeliever to believe; and the believer to increase in faith; and to console the Prophet - blessings and peace be upon him -; and to reprimand the Jews who claim that they are the children and beloved ones; and other than that which Allah intended; the ears were struck by it; and it was not related to what he will respond with on the Day of Resurrection regarding this matter; so it was omitted; and when the most noble of the objectives was the discipline of this nation for its Prophet - peace be upon him - so that they may honor him by not beginning with a question; or suggesting something to him in any of the situations; he mentioned to them the affair of the disciples in their suggestion; after having praised them by counting them among the people of revelation; and their initiative to believe; in compliance with the command; then to bear witness as a means of confirmation; with complete submission; and the removal of choice; he said - commenting with 'They said, We have believed'; bringing closer the time of their obstinacy from the time of their faith; reminding this nation of its preservation of obedience; and reproaching the Children of Israel for their frequent changes; and their lack of steadfastness; distancing them from the degree of love; let alone sonship; and this story is before the story of the revelation to them; so this 'when' is an adverb for that; and the revelation to them with the command to believe at the time of their asking this after his beginning; and its benefit is to preserve them from asking for another sign; as they asked for this one; after they saw from him - blessings and peace be upon him - the signs -: 'When he said'; and he repeated their description; and did not conceal it; specifying them for the distance of what is mentioned of their condition now from their earlier condition; so he said: 'The disciples'; and mentioned that they called him by his name; and the name of his mother; saying: 'O Jesus, son of Mary'; and they did not say: O Messenger of Allah; nor O Spirit of Allah; and similar to this from the glorification; or the magnification; 'Can your Lord' - with the 'ya'; attributed to the Lord; and with the 'ta' that is above; attributed to Jesus - peace be upon him -; and the mention of the Lord; and their meanings are one; returning to the incitement; and the stimulation; because of the striving in supplication; so that the response may occur; and this expression is also for gentleness; as a person says to one whom he honors: Can you go with me to such and such? While he knows that he is capable; but he is hinting by that that the asker loves that; and does not want to burden the respondent; 'to send down'; meaning: the Lord who is gracious to you; 'a table spread'; and it is the food; and it is also said: the tray; if it has food on it; and the tray is something placed on which food is served for eating; it is generally like the dining mat for what is placed on it food for the traveler in particular; and it is from 'madda' (to give); and fed him.

And when this was evident that it is heavenly; they stated it explicitly to avoid what he ﷺ had accustomed them to, which is that he calls for a little food; then he blesses it; and Allah extends it; so it suffices for the standing of the people. They said: ﴿from the heavens﴾; meaning: there is no craft of human beings in it; so that we may be distinguished by it from those who preceded us from the nations.

And when the intended purpose of this is to admonish us; and to guide us not to ask our Prophet ﷺ for anything; being content with what our Lord has mercy upon us with, who has had mercy upon us by initiating us; by sending him to us; to connect us to Him - glorified and exalted is He -; and to warn us against being like those who have passed from among the petitioners whose petitioning was the cause of their destruction; this is indicated by the shift from the style of address to the third person; so he said - resuming; guiding to the question from their answer -: ﴿He said﴾; and he did not say: 'I said'; ﴿Fear Allah﴾; meaning: place between yourselves and the anger of the greatest King; who has perfection; a protection that prevents you from daring to propose; ﴿if you are believers﴾; meaning: that He is capable; and that I am His Messenger; so do not act like one whose faith is contingent upon seeing what is proposed from the signs.