﴿And between them﴾ means: and the state of the two groups at this calling is that there is a barrier between them or between the two abodes. ﴿A barrier﴾ means: a wall so that the people of [p-406] bliss do not find anything that disturbs their bliss in their abode. ﴿And on the heights﴾ is the plural of 'urf', which is every elevated and high place because it is more elevated than that which is lowered. It is the overlooks from that barrier. ﴿Men﴾ whose good deeds and bad deeds are equal, so they are placed there until Allah decides about them. Then He will admit them to Paradise by the grace of His mercy, as has been explained in the Musnad of Ibn Abi Shaybah from the hadith of Jabir - may Allah be pleased with him - from the Prophet ﷺ. ﴿They recognize each﴾ means: from the people of Paradise and the people of the Fire before each of them enters his abode. ﴿By their marks﴾ means: their signs. ﴿And they called﴾ means: the people of the heights. ﴿To the companions of Paradise﴾ means: after they have entered it and settled in it. ﴿Peace be upon you﴾ means: safety and security from every harm.

And since this greeting might imply that it is after the people of the heights have entered Paradise, it is as if it was said: Was their calling after they had departed from the heights and entered it? It was said: No,

﴿They have not entered﴾ means: Paradise yet. ﴿And they﴾ means: while they ﴿are hoping﴾ to enter it. And he expressed it with 'hoping' because there is no reason for the servants to Allah from themselves, even if they have good deeds, let alone those who have no deeds.