When he was killed, it was said to him, "Enter Paradise." And according to Qatadah, Allah admitted him to Paradise while he was alive, receiving sustenance in it. He meant by His saying, "Indeed, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision," (Qur'an 3:169) and they are joyful. It was said that its meaning is the glad tidings of entering Paradise, and that he is one of its people. If you say: How is the context of this saying in the science of rhetoric? I say: Its context is one of resumption, because this is among the places where one might inquire about his state upon meeting his Lord. It is as if someone said: How was his meeting with his Lord after that steadfastness in supporting his religion and his generosity for His sake with his spirit? It was said: It was said, "Enter Paradise," and it was not said, "It was said to him," because the focus is on what was said and its greatness, not on the one to whom it was said, even though he is known. Likewise, he said, "Oh, I wish my people knew" is arranged upon the assumption of a question from someone about what he found from his words at that great victory. He only wished for his people to know about his state, so that their knowledge of it would be a reason for them to acquire something similar for themselves, by repenting from disbelief and entering into faith and good deeds that lead their people to Paradise. In a raised narration, it is mentioned that he advised his people alive and dead. This was mentioned in the story of 'Urwah ibn Mas'ud, narrated by Ibn Mardawayh from the hadith of Al-Mughira ibn Shu'bah. The story mentions that he kept saying while he was in the throes of death, "O people of Thaqif, go to the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, and ask him for safety before news of my death reaches him and he invades you." He kept saying this until he died, and the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, was informed. He said, "He truly advised his people, alive and dead," and he likened him to a companion of Yasin. In it is a great reminder of the obligation to suppress anger, to be patient with the ignorant, to show compassion to those who have placed themselves among the wicked and the oppressors, to strive to rescue them, and to be gentle in redeeming them, and to engage in that instead of rejoicing over them and praying against them. Do you not see how he wished for good for his killers and those who plotted against him, even though they were disbelieving idolaters? It is possible that he wished for that so they would know that they were in a great error regarding him, and that he was in the right, giving advice and showing compassion, and that their enmity only brought him victory and did not bring him anything but happiness, because in that is an increase in his joy and a doubling of pleasure and happiness. The first interpretation is more appropriate. And it was read: "the honored ones." If you say: What is in the saying of Allah, the Most High, "By what my Lord has forgiven me"? What are the meanings of it? I say: It could be either the verbal noun or the relative pronoun, meaning: by that which He has forgiven me of sins. It is also possible that it is interrogative, meaning: by what did my Lord forgive me? Referring to what was from him with them of patience in supporting the religion until he was killed. As for your saying, "By what my Lord has forgiven me," by dropping the alif is better, although maintaining it is permissible. It is said: I have known by what you did this, meaning: by what did you do it and with what did you do it.