He knows every hidden secret in the heavens and the earth. Among them is what you conceal of plotting against His Messenger, blessings and peace be upon him, while you know that what you say is falsehood and lies. Likewise, the inner matter of the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, and his innocence from what you accuse him of. He rewards you and rewards him for what He knows of you and what He knows from him. If you say: How does His saying, 'Indeed, He was Forgiving and Merciful,' correspond to this meaning? I say: Since what has preceded is in the meaning of warning, it is followed by what indicates His ability to do so. For no one is described with forgiveness and mercy except the one who is able to punish. Or it is a reminder that they have deserved, by their obstinacy, to have punishment poured upon them, but He has diverted that from them. Indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful: He gives respite and does not hasten.