When they look at the companions of Paradise, they call out to them, greeting them. And when their eyes are turned towards the companions of the Fire and they see what they are in of punishment, they seek refuge in Allah and turn to His mercy, asking Him not to make them with them. And they call out to men from among the leaders of the disbelievers, saying to them, 'Are these the ones you swore Allah would not grant them mercy?' This is a reference to the people of Paradise, whom the leaders used to belittle and despise due to their poverty and lack of worldly fortunes. They swore that Allah would not admit them to Paradise. 'Enter Paradise' is said to the companions of Al-A'raf, after they are held at the Al-A'raf and look at the two groups and recognize them by their marks, and they say what they say.

The benefit of this is to show that the reward is according to the deeds, and that the advancement and delay are based on their goodness. No one has precedence with Allah except by their precedence in deeds, and no one is delayed with Him except by their delay in it. And the listeners should aspire to the state of the predecessors and strive to secure their share. They should imagine that everyone will be recognized on that day by their marks, which they have earned to be marked with, from the people of good and evil, so that the wrongdoer may refrain from their wrongdoing, and the doer of good may increase in their goodness. And it should be known that the sinners are reproached by everyone, even the least of people in deeds.

And His saying, 'And when their eyes are turned' indicates that there is a turning that turns their eyes to look so they may seek refuge and be reproached. Al-A'mash recited: 'And when their eyes are turned over.' And it was recited: 'Enter Paradise,' in the passive form. And 'Ikrimah recited: 'They entered Paradise.' If you say: How does this align with the saying, 'There is no fear upon you, nor shall you grieve?' I say: Its interpretation is: 'Enter, or they entered Paradise,' said to them: 'There is no fear upon you, nor shall you grieve.' If you say: What is the place of His saying: 'They did not enter it while they were hoping?' I say: It has no place because it is an independent statement, as if a questioner asked about the state of the companions of Al-A'raf, and it was said: 'They did not enter it while they were hoping,' meaning their state is that their entry into Paradise was delayed compared to the entry of the people of Paradise. They did not enter it because they were held back while they were hoping; they did not despair. And it may have a place, in that it describes men: 'What has your gathering of wealth or your multitude and your assembly availed you, and your arrogance against the truth and against the people?' And it was recited: 'You boast,' from the abundance.