Commentary
The Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, was comforted by this, and he prohibited hastening their punishment and being distressed by its delay. It has been recited: 'He extends them.' And 'He hastens,' and 'He speeds,' with the pronoun being Allah, glorified and exalted is He. It is permissible in: 'He hastens,' and 'He speeds' that it includes the pronoun of what is being extended. And 'He hastens' is constructed for the object. The meaning is that this extension is nothing but a lure for them to sins, and a drawing them into increased wrongdoing, while they think it is hastening for them in good deeds, and in what they have benefit and honor, and a quick reward before its time. It is also permissible that it is intended in the reward for good deeds as is done with the people of goodness among the Muslims. But rather, it is a rebuttal to His saying: 'Do they think?' meaning: Rather, they are like cattle, having no understanding or awareness, until they contemplate and reflect on this: Is it a lure, or a hastening in good? If you say: Where is the return from the news that 'to' is its name if its pronoun does not settle in it? I say: It is omitted, its estimation being: 'We hasten it,' and 'He hastens it,' and 'Allah hastens it,' like His saying: 'Indeed, that is among the resolved matters,' meaning that it is from Him, and that is to avoid the lengthening of speech with the safety from confusion.
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