Indeed, your Lord is most knowledgeable about the truly insane, and they are those who have gone astray from His path. And He is most knowledgeable about the rational ones, and they are the guided ones. Or it could be a warning and a promise, and He knows the recompense of the two groups. So do not obey the deniers, inciting and igniting the determination to commit their sins. They had wanted him to worship Allah for a time, and their idols for a time, and to refrain from their evils. If you would soften, they would soften and make peace. If you say: Why is it raised 'they would soften' and not made accusative by implying 'that' as a response to the wish? I say: It has been shifted to another way: it is made the news of a subject that is omitted, meaning: they soften, like His saying: 'So whoever believes in his Lord will not fear.' In meaning: they wished you would soften, they would soften then. Or they wished for your softening, and they are now softening, due to their hope in your softening. Sibawayh said: And Harun claimed that in some copies it is 'they wished you would soften, so they would soften.'