His saying, exalted and majestic is He: "Those who, if We give them power in the land, establish prayer, and give zakah, and enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. And to Allah belongs the outcome of all matters." "And if they deny you, then already denied before them the people of Noah and 'Aad and Thamud," "And the people of Abraham and the people of Lot," "And the companions of Madyan. And Moses was denied, so I gave respite to the disbelievers; then I seized them. And how was My reproach?"

A group said: This verse is about the four caliphs, may Allah be pleased with them.

The judge Abu Muhammad, may Allah have mercy on him, said: The meaning of this specification is that these specifically were given power in the land among those who fight the mentioned ones at the beginning of the verse. The generality in all of this is clearer, and the matter applies to all people. The verse takes a covenant upon everyone whom Allah, exalted and majestic is He, has given power, each according to the extent of their power. As for prayer and zakah, everyone is responsible for establishing them. As for enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, each is according to their strength. The verse is most applicable to kings, and what is right and wrong encompasses both faith and disbelief and what is below them.

Another group said: This verse was revealed specifically about the companions of Muhammad, blessings and peace be upon him, from among the people. This is based on the idea that "those who" is a substitute for His saying, blessed and exalted is He: "They are fought."

The judge Abu Muhammad, may Allah have mercy on him, said: Or that "those who" is a continuation of "who" in His saying, exalted is He: "Who will support him?" And His saying, exalted is He: "And to Allah belongs the outcome of all matters" is a warning to those who oppose these commands required by the verse for whom has been given power.

His saying, exalted is He: "And if they deny you" means Quraysh. And this verse is a consolation for the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, and a threat to Quraysh, as He likened them to the denying nations that were punished. He attributed the action with a sign of femininity to "a people" in terms of what he intended, and the tribe, to make the statement consistent regarding 'Aad and Thamud. The people of Noah were the first nation to deny their prophet. Then he attributed the denial regarding Moses, peace be upon him, to those whose doer was not named, as his people did not deny him, but rather the Egyptians denied him while his people believed in him. And "I gave respite" means: I delayed, as if the delaying is to give time to one you intend to punish while you are aware of their actions. And "reproach" is a source like "gadir" meaning denial and excuse, and it is in these sources a form of exaggeration. Thus, the meaning of this verse is: Just as I dealt with these nations, so I will deal with your people.