at all. He said, “Why did you not say to them: ‘Are you among the people of Paradise? Indeed, the believers are the people of Paradise.’”

Sufyan al-Thawri said: “Whoever claims that he is truly a believer, or that he is a believer in Allah’s sight, yet does not testify that he is in Paradise, has believed in one half of the verse but not the other half.”

“For them are degrees with their Lord.” Ata said: “That is, the درجات of Paradise, which they ascend by virtue of their deeds.” Al-Rabi ibn Anas said: “They are seventy degrees; between every two degrees is the distance that a well-trained horse would cover in seventy ⦗144⦘ years (1).” “And forgiveness” for their sins, “and a noble provision”—that is, a good provision: what He has prepared for them in Paradise.

“As your Lord brought you forth from your home in accordance with the truth, though a party of the believers were unwilling (5), disputing with you concerning the truth after it had become clear, as though they were being driven toward death while looking on (6). And when Allah promised you one of the two groups—that it would be yours—yet you wished that the unarmed one would be yours. But Allah willed to establish the truth by His words and cut off the last remnant of the disbelievers (7).”

His saying, Exalted is He, “As your Lord brought you forth from your home in accordance with the truth”: the scholars differed regarding what governs the comparative particle in His saying, “As your Lord brought you forth.” Al-Mubarrad said: Its meaning is: The spoils belong to Allah and the Messenger, even though they dislike it, just as your Lord brought you forth from your home in accordance with the truth, even though they disliked it.

It was also said: Its meaning is: Proceed with Allah’s command concerning the spoils, even though they dislike it, just as you proceeded with Allah’s command to leave your home in pursuit of the caravan, while they were unwilling.

Ikrimah said: Its meaning is: So fear Allah and set right what is between you, for that is better for you, just as Allah’s bringing Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, forth from his home in accordance with the truth was better for you, even though a party among you disliked it.

Mujahid said: Its meaning is: Just as your Lord brought you forth from your home in accordance with the truth, despite the unwillingness of a party among them, so too they dislike fighting and dispute with you about it.

It was also said that it refers back to His saying, “For them are degrees with their Lord.” Its meaning is: Allah’s promise (2) to grant them degrees is true, and Allah, Exalted is He, will fulfil it, just as your Lord brought you forth from your home in accordance with the truth and fulfilled His promise of victory and triumph.