His saying, exalted and majestic is He:

"Did you not see that the ship sails in the sea by the grace of Allah, to show you of His signs? Indeed, in that are signs for every patient and grateful one." "And when a wave covers them like canopies, they call upon Allah, sincere to Him in religion. But when He saves them to the land, among them is a moderate one, and none denies Our signs except every treacherous, ungrateful one."

The vision in His saying: "Did you not see" is the vision of the eye, which combines looking and reflection. The addressed one is Muhammad, blessings and peace be upon him, and the intended ones are all people. And "the ship" is plural and singular with the same word. Musa ibn Al-Zubair read: "the ships" with a damma on the lam. And His saying: "Did you not see" may mean what the ships carry of food and provisions, so the ba is for attachment. It may also mean: by the wind and the subjugation of Allah, glorified and exalted is He, to the sea and similar to this, so the ba is the ba of reason. The majority read: "by grace," and Ibn Abi Abla read: "by graces" with a fatḥa on the nun and a kasra on the ‘ain.

And He mentioned, exalted is He, the attribute of the believer as patient and grateful in adversity and prosperity. Al-Shabi said: "Patience is half of faith, and gratitude is the other half, and certainty is all of faith."

And "covered" means: enveloped or approached, and "the canopies" are the clouds. Muhammad ibn Al-Hanafiya read: "like the shadows." And from this is the saying of Al-Nabigha describing the sea:

"It is accompanied by green, having canopies, On its edges are the halves of the vessels."

And Allah, exalted is He, described in this verse the state of people who do not reflect upon the true lesson. The purpose of the verse is to clarify a sign that the minds testify to, that idols and false gods have no share in it nor entrance.

And His saying, exalted is He: "And among them is a moderate one," Al-Hasan said: Among them is a believer who recognizes the right of Allah, glorified and exalted is He, in these blessings. And Mujahid said: He means: Among them is a moderate one in his disbelief, meaning: Among them is one who submits to Allah, glorified and exalted is He, and understands this in terms of power, even if he is misguided regarding the idols due to his glorification of them by his conduct and tongue.

And "the treacherous one" is the one who is treacherous and ungrateful. This is because the blessings of Allah, glorified and exalted is He, upon the servants are like covenants and favors that require the fulfillment of gratitude and worship to the one who bestowed them. So whoever denies that and is ungrateful, it is as if he has betrayed and deceived. And from treachery is the saying of Amr ibn Ma'adi Karb Al-Zubaidi:

"If you had seen Abu Umayr, You would have filled your hands with treachery and deceit."

And Al-Hasan said: The treacherous one is the one who betrays. And "ungrateful" is a form of exaggeration.