His saying, exalted and majestic is He: "And Allah is He who sends the winds, and they stir up clouds, and We drive them to a dead land, and We revive the earth thereby after its death. Thus is the resurrection." "Whoever desires honor, then to Allah belongs all honor. To Him ascends the good word, and the righteous deed raises it. And those who conspire evil deeds will have a severe punishment, and the plot of those will perish." This is a verse of argument against the disbelievers in denying resurrection from the graves. So He, exalted is He, pointed them to the example that they witness, which is similar to the revival of the dead. And "the dead land" is that which has no vegetation in it, having become dusty from drought. When water from the clouds reaches it, it becomes green and brings forth plants. That is its life. And "resurrection" is the source: the dead is revived when he comes to life. From it is the saying of Al-A'sha: "O wonder of the dead who is revived!" And His saying, exalted is He: "Whoever desires honor" has three meanings: One of them is that whoever desires honor through overcoming, then to Allah belongs honor, meaning: it is not for anyone else, nor is it complete except for Him. And this overcomer is overpowered. Mujahid inclined towards this and said: Whoever desires honor through the worship of idols. Qadi Abu Muhammad, may Allah have mercy on him, said: This is a reference to His saying, exalted is He: "And they took besides Allah deities that they might be for them a source of honor." The second meaning is: Whoever desires honor and the straight path to it, and loves to attain it in its proper way, then to Allah belongs honor, meaning: through Him and by His command, His honor cannot be attained except through obedience to Him. Qatadah inclined towards this. The third meaning - as said by Al-Farra - is: Whoever desires knowledge of honor, then to Allah belongs honor, meaning: He is the one characterized by it. And "all" is an adverb. And His saying, exalted is He: "To Him ascends the good word" means: the oneness of Allah, glorification, and the remembrance of Allah and similar things. Al-Dahhak read: "ascends" with a dammah on the ya, and the majority read: "the word," which is the plural of word. Abu Abdur-Rahman read: "the speech," and "the good" is that which is pleasing to hear in a way that is legislated. And Ka'b Al-Ahbar said: Indeed, for "Subhan Allah, and Al-Hamdu Lillah, and La Ilaha Illa Allah, and Allahu Akbar" there is a sound around the Throne like the buzzing of bees, reminding of its possessor. And His saying, exalted is He: "And the righteous deed raises it," there is a difference among the people regarding the pronoun, to whom it returns. A group said: It returns to "the deed," and this group differed: Some said: The subject of "raises" is "the word," meaning: and the deed is raised by the word, which is the saying: "There is no deity except Allah," because no deed is raised except by oneness. Some of them said: The action is ascribed to Allah, exalted is He, meaning: and the righteous deed is raised by Him. And this is the strongest of the opinions.

Ibn Abbas, Shahr ibn Hawshab, Mujahid, and Qatadah said: The pronoun in "He raises it" refers back to "the word." That is, indeed, the righteous deed raises the word. The expressions of the people of this statement differ. Some of them said: It has been narrated from Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, that when a servant remembers Allah, the Exalted, and speaks good words, and fulfills his obligations, his saying is raised along with his deed. If he speaks - and does not fulfill his obligations - his saying is returned to his deed, and it is said: His deed is more deserving of it. This statement is refuted by the belief of the people of truth and Sunnah, and it is not authentically reported from Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him. The truth is that the sinner who neglects the obligations, when he remembers Allah, the Exalted, and speaks good words, it is indeed written for him, accepted from him, and he has his good deeds, and upon him are his bad deeds. And Allah accepts from everyone who fears associating partners with Him. Also, indeed, good words are a righteous deed. The saying of one who says: "Indeed, the deed is what raises the word" is only correct if he interprets it to mean that it increases its elevation and good standing when it is supported by it; just as the one who performs deeds of prayer, fasting, and other things - if his deeds are interspersed with good words and remembrance of Allah - then the deeds are more noble. Thus, his saying: "And the righteous deed raises it" serves as an admonition and reminder, urging towards good deeds. Al-Thalabi mentioned that the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, said: "Allah does not accept a saying except with a deed, and no deed except with intention." Its meaning is: a saying that implies that its speaker has performed a deed, or will perform it shortly. As for the sayings that are deeds in themselves - such as monotheism and glorification - they are accepted as we have mentioned. A group read: "And the righteous deed" in the accusative case. According to this reading, "He raises it" is attributed either to Allah, the Exalted, or to "the word," and the pronoun in "He raises it" refers back to the deed alone. And His saying, the Exalted: "They plot evil deeds" may be that He has made "They plot" take the place of "They earn," or that He has omitted the object and placed its description in its place. Its estimation is: They plot the plots of evil deeds. And "They plot" means: they deceive and trick while appearing not to do so. And "It will perish" means: it becomes corrupt and remains with no benefit in it. Some of the interpreters said: The people of showing off are included in the verse. Al-Qadi Abu Muhammad, may Allah have mercy on him, said: The verse was revealed initially concerning the polytheists.