And when this was a sign that they are nothing and have no consideration, he said, causing a threat to them: How severe is this threat! ﴿So give them respite﴾, meaning a great delay gradually. And when there are among the disbelievers those who believe in Allah, they are not deserving of such a threat. He expressed this with a description that implies firmness, saying: ﴿the disbelievers﴾, meaning do not invoke against them nor hasten for them destruction. For we do not hasten, because no one hastens punishment except one who fears missing out. It has been reported that Al-Hajjaj's prison was made of marble and its floor was made of lead. He would change colors with the changing of the times. The time of heat is Hell, and the time of cold is freezing cold. One day, as he passed by, they cried out for help, so he lowered his head to them and said: Be humiliated therein and do not speak to me. The ground took the legs of his horse and raised its front to the sky, and he said: Glorified are You, no one hastens punishment except one who fears missing out. And he departed from his time. For indeed, haste - [and it is -] the occurrence of something at a time not suitable for it - is a deficiency, for no one hastens except one who has [what he does -] the one who is hastened upon outside of his control.

And when the form of the verb indicates a process, it may imply prolongation. This is confirmed by merely indicating the action, showing that the intended meaning of the first is to impose delay, even though its time is short and gradual, so that the one who delays can be reassured by this and he gains [through it -] great strength and determination. For what they say is something that the souls strongly dislike, so no one can turn away from it except with great assistance: ﴿Give them respite﴾, meaning by turning away from them once after the gradual delay [due to the strength you have gained through the gradual delay - ] that you were commanded to do previously. ﴿Gradually﴾, meaning a slight delay, and soon there will be for them matters, and what matters will heal the chests, and it is the diminutive of “arwaad”, a diminutive of gentleness. Ibn Burjan said: It is a word that conveys gentleness. This other one is what is meant by what was at the beginning, that each of them and others are preserved by His preservation, their sayings and actions and movements and stillnesses and conditions are all recorded. For this is necessitated by the fact that it is in His control. Thus, the two sides met on the greatest [matter with the clearest -] proof, and the first of this threat occurred on the day of Badr. Then their punishment, humiliation, and degradation continued until many of them were killed by the sword and many of them [by death - ] met their end in the fire. And the remaining ones remained in humiliation until Allah honored them with the honor of Islam, and they became among the great leaders, in honor, respect, and glorification of this noble Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best what is correct.