And when he mentioned the two categories, their punishment and their reward, he mentioned the delayed matter [which is the category of the one who wrongs himself, as he began with it in Surah Fatir, the other being Surah Al-Hashr. It is not far that this is the first Surah of Al-Hashr; for he ﷺ led the people to the land of resurrection]. He said: ﴿And others﴾ meaning: and among them are others ﴿delayed﴾ meaning: postponed between hope and fear ﴿for the command of Allah﴾ meaning: for what the supreme king commands regarding them, to whom belongs all command. They do not know whether they will be punished or shown mercy; and he preceded his saying: ﴿Either He punishes them﴾ if they persist - as a warning [to them] to urge them to hasten to repentance and to purify it and to be sincere in it, and to encourage that fear remains as long as a person is healthy (p-15) mostly. And he followed with his saying: ﴿Or He may turn to them﴾ meaning: if they repent, as a reassurance for them and to soften their hearts by reminding them of the abode of comfort from which they have expelled themselves and prevented it from being established and the goodness of its resting place and its time of rest and the nobility of its ranks and the delightful sustenance therein.

And when it was said that perhaps someone might ask: What is the benefit of the delay and what prevents the immediate action? He said: ﴿And Allah﴾ meaning: the one who encompasses all things in power and knowledge ﴿is Knowing and Wise﴾ as a means of instilling fear and desire, and distancing and drawing near, and being cautious of what the repetition might imply of doubt and training, and the reading of 'Forgiving, Merciful' for the increase in reassurance.