'Exalted' is from the specific that has become general. Its origin is that it is said by someone in a high place to someone below him, then it became widespread until it encompassed all. And what is 'forbidden' is understood as the act of recitation, meaning recite what your Lord has forbidden. Or 'forbidden' can mean: whatever your Lord has made forbidden, because recitation is from speech, and 'that' in 'that you do not associate' is explanatory and 'do not' is for prohibition. If you say: why did you not say it is what governs the verb, and made 'that you do not associate' a substitute for 'what is forbidden'? I say: it must be that 'that you do not associate' and 'do not approach' and 'do not kill' and 'do not follow the paths' are prohibitions due to the connection of the commands to them, and it is His saying 'and to the parents, do good' because the meaning is: and do good to the parents. And fulfill, and when you speak, be just, and fulfill the covenant of Allah. If you say: what do you do with His saying 'and that this is My straight path, so follow it' in the reading with the opening, it is only correct to connect it to 'that you do not associate' if you make 'that' the one governing the verb, so the meaning would be: I recite to you the negation of associating and the oneness, and I recite to you that this is My straight path? I say: I make His saying 'and that this is My straight path' a reason for following, with the implication of 'for', like His saying 'and that the mosques are for Allah, so do not call upon anyone with Allah' meaning: and because this is My straight path, so follow it. The evidence for this is the reading with the kasra, as if it were said: and follow My path because it is straight, or follow My path, indeed it is straight. If you say: if you make 'that' explanatory for the act of recitation and it is dependent on what your Lord has forbidden, it must be that what follows it is entirely forbidden, like associating and what follows it that has entered upon it the prohibition, what do you do with the commands? I say: when these commands came with the prohibitions, and they all preceded the act of prohibition, and they shared in being under its ruling, it is known that the prohibition returns to their opposites, which are the wrongdoing to the parents, and the cheating in measures and weights. And neglecting justice in speech, and breaking the covenant of Allah due to poverty and fear of it, like His saying 'fear of poverty'. What is apparent from it and what is hidden, like His saying 'the apparent sin and its hidden'. Except by the truth, like retribution, and killing for apostasy, and stoning.