That is, the Most Merciful has extended for him, meaning: He has given him respite and delayed for him in life. He has expressed this in the form of a command to indicate that it is inevitable and that it is a thing that must happen, like what is commanded and obeyed, to cut off the excuses of the misguided. It will be said to him on the Day of Resurrection, 'Did We not grant you a lifespan in which whoever would remember could remember?' Or like His saying, 'Indeed, We only extend for them so that they may increase in sin.' Or, 'Whoever is in misguidance, let the Most Merciful extend for him a lengthening,' in the sense of supplication that Allah may give him respite and extend his lifespan. In this verse, there are two interpretations. The first is that it is connected to the preceding verse, and the two verses are an interruption between them. That is, they said: 'Which of the two parties is better in position and more beautiful in gathering?' Until when they see what they are promised, meaning they do not cease to say this and become engrossed in it, not turning away from it until they witness the promised with their own eyes, either the punishment in this world, which is the dominance of the Muslims over them and their tormenting them by killing and capturing, and the manifestation of Allah's religion over all religions at their hands. Or on the Day of Resurrection, what befalls them of disgrace and punishment. At that time, they will know upon witnessing that the matter is contrary to what they had estimated, and that they are in a worse position and weaker in troops, not better in position and more beautiful in gathering, and that the believers are contrary to their description. The second interpretation is that it is connected to what follows. The meaning is that those in misguidance are extended in their misguidance. And the abandonment does not cling to them due to Allah's knowledge of them, and that the kindnesses do not benefit them, and they are not among the people of it. The intended meaning of misguidance is what their ignorance and extremism in their disbelief led them to say. They will not cease from their misguidance until they witness the victory of Allah for the believers or see the Hour and its precursors. If you ask: What is this until? I would say: It is what is narrated after it in the sentences. Do you not see the conditional sentence occurring after it, which is His saying, 'When they see what they are promised, they will know who is worse in position and weaker in troops,' in contrast to 'better in position and more beautiful in gathering,' because their position is their place and dwelling. And the gathering is the assembly that encompasses the faces of their people and their supporters and helpers. And the troops are the supporters and helpers.