Abu Ubaydah said: “The view I prefer is that He created one group for His mercy and another group for His punishment.”
Ibn Abbas, Mujahid, Qatadah, and al-Dahhak said: “And He created them for mercy”—meaning those upon whom He has mercy.
Al-Farra said: “He created the people of mercy for mercy, and the people of disagreement for disagreement.”
The sum of the meaning of the verse (1) is that the people of falsehood are divided, whereas the people of truth are united. Thus, Allah created the people of truth for unity and the people of falsehood for disagreement.
“And the word of your Lord has been fulfilled”: that is, the decree of your Lord has been fulfilled: “I will surely fill Hell with jinn and mankind all together.”
“We relate to you, Muhammad, the accounts of the messengers in order to strengthen your heart thereby. In this there has come to you the truth, an exhortation, and a reminder for the believers. Say to those who do not believe, ‘Go on working according to your position; we too are working. And wait; we too are waiting.’ To Allah belongs the knowledge of the unseen of the heavens and the earth, and to Him all matters will be returned. So worship Him and put your trust in Him. Your Lord is not unaware of what you do.” (120–123)
“We relate to you the accounts of the messengers in order to strengthen your heart thereby”: its meaning is that We relate to you every account of the messengers which you need—the accounts concerning them and their nations—in order to strengthen your heart thereby, to increase you in certainty and fortify your heart. For when the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, heard these accounts, they strengthened his heart to bear patiently the harm caused by his people.
“In this there has come to you the truth.” Al-Hasan and Qatadah said: “In this world.”
Others said: “In this surah,” and this is the view of the majority. This surah was singled out as an honor, although the truth had come to him in all the surahs.
“An exhortation”: that is, an exhortation has come to you, “and a reminder for the believers.”
“Say to those who do not believe, ‘Go on working according to your position’”: this is a command of threat and warning; “we too are working.”
“And wait”—for the mercy of Allah that will come to us—“we too are waiting”—for the punishment of Allah that will come upon you.
“To Allah belongs the knowledge of the unseen of the heavens and the earth”: that is, knowledge of what is hidden from the servants within them. “And to Him all matters will be returned” in the Hereafter.
Nafi and Hafs recited it in the passive: “will be returned,” meaning: will be brought back. The others recited it in the active: all matters will return to Him, until created beings possess no authority.