Abdullah ibn Mas'ud said: “Whoever seeks a model to follow should follow those who have passed away, [for the living are not safe from tribulation] (1). They are the Companions of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him: they were the best of this community, the most upright in heart, the most profound in knowledge, and the least given to affectation. They were a people whom Allah chose for the companionship of His Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and for establishing His religion. [So acknowledge their merit, follow in their footsteps, and hold fast, as far as you are able, to their character and way of life] (2), for they were upon upright guidance (3).”

His saying, Most High, “And glory be to Allah,” means: Say, “Glory be to Allah,” declaring Him far above the partners they associate with Him. “And I am not of those who associate partners with Him.”

“And We sent before you only men from among the people of the towns, to whom We revealed. Have they not travelled through the land and seen how the end of those before them was? And the abode of the Hereafter is better for those who fear Allah. Will you not then understand?” (109)

“We sent before you,” O Muhammad, “only men,” not angels, “to whom We revealed.” Hafs recited it as “We reveal,” with a nun and a kasrah on the ha; the others recited it with a ya and a fathah on the ha.

“From among the people of the towns,” meaning, from the inhabitants of cities rather than the desert regions, because city-dwellers are more discerning, more virtuous, more knowledgeable, and more forbearing.

[Al-Hasan said: “Allah did not send any prophet from among the Bedouin, the jinn, or women.” It was also said: “He sent none”] (4) from among the desert dwellers because of their coarseness and harshness.

“Have they not travelled through the land,” meaning these deniers among the polytheists, “and seen how the end of those before them was”—that is, the final outcome of the nations that denied—so that they may take warning.

“And the abode of the Hereafter is better for those who fear Allah.” Glorified and Exalted is He, says: This is how We deal with those who are under Our protection and obedient to Us: We save them when punishment descends, and what awaits them in the abode of the Hereafter is better for them. He omitted what we have mentioned, since the context indicates it.

Regarding His saying, “And the abode of the Hereafter,” it was said that it means: the abode of the final state of existence.

It was also said that this is the annexation of a thing to itself, as in His saying: “Indeed, this is the certain truth” (al-Waqi'ah 56:95), and in such expressions as “Thursday day” and “the latter spring.” “Will you not then understand,” and thus believe?