Commentary
And when he clarified many of their conditions, the longing for their outcome intensified. Their intention in manifesting faith and apologizing for the contradictions by affirming the oaths is merely to draw closer to the believers and to endear themselves, hoping to live among them and to be spared from the immediate consequences of what they deserve from their destruction. He clarified that for this deception, they have eternal punishment and necessary expulsion. He gathered with them those who openly declare disbelief, informing that if they are not more obstinate than them, they are equal. He said: "Allah has promised" and he conveyed it in the form of good tidings, mocking them and emphasizing their disgrace: "the hypocrites and the hypocritical women" meaning: those who conceal their beliefs, "and the disbelievers" meaning: those who openly declare their obstinacy.
And when they are naturally inclined to frown upon the believers and to withdraw from them, even if they show otherwise, it is mere pretense. He said: "the Fire of Hell" meaning: the fire that is characterized by the frowning of its people and their meeting with increased scowls. "They will remain in it" meaning: they will not have an escape from it. "It is sufficient for them" meaning: it is enough for them in punishment. However, since eternity may be understood as a long time, after which there might be relief, he said: "And Allah has cursed them" meaning: He expelled them and distanced them from His mercy. He is the Sovereign, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise, with whom no one has authority, so he made it clear that there is no relief for them. Then he negated all possibility by saying: "And for them" meaning: in both matters, "there is a lasting punishment" meaning: there is no description for it other than permanence in this world due to what they are subdued by from the might of Islam and its noble, illustrious soldiers. And in the Hereafter, with what only Allah, the Sovereign, the All-Knowing, truly knows.
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