Nations like you are written, their provisions, lifespans, and deeds, just as your provisions, lifespans, and deeds are written. We have not neglected, nor left out, nor overlooked anything in the Book, in the Preserved Tablet, of that which we did not write or record that which must be recorded pertaining to it. Then they will be gathered to their Lord. This refers to all nations, from the beasts and the birds, and He compensates them and gives justice among them, as it has been narrated that He takes from the horned animal for the one without horns. If you say: How is it said: 'Except nations' while the beast and the bird are singular? It is said: Since His saying, 'And there is no creature on the earth nor bird that flies with its wings,' indicates a meaning of comprehensiveness and suffices to say: 'And there are no creatures nor birds,' the phrase 'Except nations' is understood in meaning. If you say: Why was it not said: 'And there is no creature nor bird'? [Mahamud said: 'If you say, why was it not said: " , " etc. Ahmad said: 'And he did not clarify the reason for its addition for generality.'] One might say: The generality in the types of birds necessitates the inclusion of every bird in the sky in the generality even if it is not mentioned in the sky. Similarly, the generality of the beasts in all their kinds necessitates that every creature on the earth is included even if it is not mentioned on the earth. Therefore, there must be clarification for the reason for the addition. We say: The position of His saying 'on the earth' and 'flies with its wings' is that of a general description, and the attribute of the general is necessary for conformity. It is as if, with the addition of the attribute, two general attributes have combined. And Allah knows best. Except nations like you? And what is the meaning of the addition of His saying 'on the earth' and 'flies with its wings'? I say: The meaning of that is an increase in comprehensiveness and inclusion, as if it is said: 'And there is no creature only in all seven earths, and there is no bird at all in the sky from all that flies with its wings except nations like you, whose conditions are preserved and whose affairs are not neglected.' If you say: What is the purpose of mentioning that? I say: It indicates the greatness of His power, the subtlety of His knowledge, the vastness of His dominion, and His management of those creatures of varying kinds and numerous types. He is the Preserver of what they have and what is against them, overseeing their conditions, not distracted by one affair from another. And the accountable ones are not exclusive to this without others among all animals. Ibn Abi Abla read: 'nor bird,' in the nominative case, as if it were said: 'And there is no creature nor bird.' Alqama read: 'We have not neglected,' with a lightening of the verb." :