The city: Egypt. It is said: the city of Memphis from the land of Egypt. And when they were heedless: it is between the two evening prayers. And it is said: the time of the midday nap. And it is said: the day of their festival, in which they are occupied with their amusement. And it is said: when he grew up and became wise, he began to speak the truth and deny them, so they feared him. He would not enter a village except in a state of heedlessness. Sibawayh read: 'So he sought help from his faction' from those who supported him in his religion from the Children of Israel. It is said: he is the Samaritan from his enemy among those who opposed him from the Copts, and he was a worker, and he used to be made to carry wood to Pharaoh's kitchen. And 'the poke' means pushing with the tips of the fingers. It is said: with the palm of the hand. Ibn Mas'ud read: 'So he poked him.' with the letter 'lam' and he judged against him and killed him. If you say: why did he make the killing of the disbeliever an act of Satan and call it injustice to himself and seek forgiveness for it? I say: because he killed him before he was permitted to kill, so it was a sin for which he sought forgiveness. From Ibn Jurayj: it is not for a prophet to kill unless he is commanded to do so. 'By what You have bestowed upon me' may be an oath, the answer of which is omitted, its meaning being: I swear by Your favor upon me with forgiveness that I will certainly repent, and I will not be a supporter of the wrongdoers. [[The saying of Allah, the Exalted: 'He said: My Lord, by what You have bestowed upon me, I will not be a supporter of the wrongdoers.' Ahmad said: He has disassociated himself from a great matter, for being a supporter of the wrongdoers makes one a partner in what they are engaged in. It is narrated that it will be said on the Day of Resurrection: Where are the oppressors and the supporters of the oppressors? They will be brought forth, even those who merely touched a pen for them, and they will be placed in a coffin of iron and thrown into the fire.]] And it may be a plea for mercy, as if he said: My Lord, protect me by the right of what You have bestowed upon me of forgiveness, so I will not be - if You protect me - a supporter of the wrongdoers. And by 'supporting the wrongdoers' he meant either the companionship of Pharaoh and his joining with him and increasing his numbers, as he would ride alongside him like a son with his father, and he was called the son of Pharaoh. Or supporting those whose support led to sin and wrongdoing, like the support of the Israelite that led to the killing which was not lawful for him. And from Ibn Abbas: he did not make an exception, so he was tested with it once more. Meaning: he did not say: 'I will not be, if Allah wills.' This is similar to His saying: 'And do not incline towards those who have wronged.' And from Ata: a man said to him: My brother strikes with his pen and does not exceed his provision. He said: From the head, meaning from who writes for him? He said: Khalid ibn Abdullah al-Qasri. He said: So where is the saying of Moses? And he recited this verse. And in the hadith: 'A caller will call on the Day of Resurrection: Where are the oppressors and those like the oppressors and the supporters of the oppressors, even those who merely touched a pen for them, and they will be gathered in a coffin of iron and thrown into Hell.' [[Mentioned by the author of Al-Firdaws from the hadith of Abu Huraira.]] And it is said that its meaning is: by what You have bestowed upon me of strength, I will not use it except in supporting Your allies and the people of Your obedience and faith in You. And I will not allow a Copt to overpower anyone from the Children of Israel.