Commentary
And it was recited: 'And certainly We have tried,' with emphasis for confirmation. Or for its occurrence upon the people. And the meaning of the trial is that He granted them respite and expanded their provision, so this became a reason for their committing sins and transgressions. Or He tested them by sending Moses to them to believe, but they chose disbelief over faith. Or He stripped them of their kingdom and drowned them, which is generous with Allah and with His believing servants. Or generous in itself, because Allah did not send a prophet except from the nobility of his people and their honorable ones. He means by saying that the messenger's coming to them entails the meaning of the saying because he does not come to them except as a giver of good news and a warner, calling to Allah. Or it is the lighter form of the heavy one, and its meaning is: And he came to them with the matter and the talk, 'Bring to me, O servants of the Most Merciful,' which is an object, and they are the Children of Israel. He says: Bring them to me and send them with me, as His saying: 'So send with us the Children of Israel and do not punish them.' And it may be a call to them: 'Bring to me, O servants of Allah, what is obligatory for you upon me of faith in me, accepting my call, and following my path.' And he justified this by saying that he is a trustworthy messenger, not suspicious, whom Allah has entrusted with His revelation and message. And do not be arrogant, as this is like the first in both aspects, meaning: do not be arrogant towards Allah by belittling His messenger and His revelation. Or do not be arrogant towards the prophet of Allah with a clear authority, that you stone me or kill me. And it was recited: 'A'taziluni,' with the merging. Its meaning is that he seeks refuge with his Lord, relying on Him to protect him from them and their schemes. He is unconcerned with what they threatened him with of stoning and killing. 'So leave me,' he means: If you do not believe in me, then there is no allegiance between me and those who do not believe. So distance yourselves from me and cut off the ties from me, meaning: So leave me in peace, neither for me nor against me, and do not confront me with your polytheism and harm, for the reward of one who calls you to what leads to your success is not that.
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