Al-Hasan read: "And do not bestow with [intention of] causing harm." And "to seek abundance" is raised and is in the accusative case as a state, meaning: do not give while seeking to receive more than what you give, or seeking much. It is a prohibition against seeking abundance, which is to give something while hoping to receive from the one to whom it is given more than what was given. This is permissible. From it is the hadith: "The one who seeks abundance is rewarded for his gift." There are two opinions regarding this. The first is that it is a specific prohibition for the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, because Allah, glorified and exalted is He, chose for him the noblest of manners and the best of morals. The second is that it is a prohibition of disapproval, not of prohibition for him and his nation. Al-Hasan read: "to seek abundance" with a pause. There are three opinions regarding this: it is an exchange from "do not bestow" as if it were said: "And do not bestow, do not seek abundance," as it is from the bestowal in His saying, the Exalted: "Then they do not follow what they have spent with a bestowal or harm," because it is the nature of the one who bestows to see what he gives as abundant, meaning: he sees it as much and counts it, and to resemble wealth with strength, so it is paused for ease, and to consider the state of the stop. Al-A'mash read in the accusative by implying "that" as in his saying: "O you who warns, bring forth the battle." This is supported by the reading of Ibn Mas'ud: "And do not bestow that you seek abundance." It is permissible in the raised form to omit "that" and invalidate its action, as it was narrated: "Bring forth the battle" in the raised form, "And for your Lord, be patient," and for the sake of Allah, so patience is employed. It was said: regarding the harm of the polytheists. It was said: regarding the performance of obligations. And from Al-Nakha'i: regarding your gift, as if he connected it with what preceded it, making it patience upon giving without seeking abundance. The correct opinion is that it is a command by the act itself, and it encompasses in general every matter that requires patience and that which one is patient about, and patience is intended regarding the harm of the disbelievers, for it is one of the matters that the general encompasses.