That is, they submit and yield, saying, “We were not doing any evil”—that is, any associating of partners with Allah. The angels will say to them, “Yes indeed! Allah is Knowing of what you used to do.” Ikrimah said: “This refers to those disbelievers who were killed at Badr.”

“Enter the gates of Hell, abiding therein forever. How wretched is the abode of the arrogant!” (29)

“And it will be said to those who were mindful of Allah, ‘What has your Lord sent down?’ They will say, ‘Good.’ For those who do good in this world is a good reward, and the abode of the Hereafter is better. How excellent is the abode of those who are mindful of Allah: Gardens of perpetual residence, which they will enter, beneath which rivers flow. There they will have whatever they wish. Thus does Allah reward those who are mindful of Him—those whose souls the angels take while they are pure, saying, ‘Peace be upon you. Enter Paradise for what you used to do.’” (30–32)

“Enter”: that is, He will say to them, “Enter the gates of Hell, abiding therein forever. How wretched is the abode of those who were arrogant toward faith.”

“And it will be said to those who were mindful of Allah”: This was because, during the days of the pilgrimage season, the Arab tribes would send someone to bring them news of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. When he arrived, he would ask those who sat along the roads about him, and they would say: “A sorcerer, a soothsayer, a poet, a liar, a madman. It would be better for you not to meet him.” The questioner would then say, “I would be the worst delegate if I returned to my people without entering Mecca and meeting him.” So he would enter Mecca and see the Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, who would tell him of his truthfulness and that he was a Prophet sent by Allah. This is the meaning of His words: “And it will be said to those who were mindful of Allah, ‘What has your Lord sent down?’ They will say, ‘Good’”: that is, He has sent down good. (1)

He then begins anew, saying: “For those who do good in this world is a good reward”—a noble gift from Allah.

Ibn Abbas said: “It is the multiplication of the reward tenfold.”

Al-Dahhak said: “It is victory and conquest.”

Mujahid said: “It is wholesome provision.”

“And the abode of the Hereafter”—that is, the abode of the final life—“is better. How excellent is the abode of those who are mindful of Allah.” Al-Hasan said: “It is this worldly life, because the people of mindfulness take provision in it for the Hereafter.” Most commentators, however, said: “It is Paradise.” He then explained it, saying: “Gardens of perpetual residence, which they will enter, beneath which rivers flow. There they will have whatever they wish. Thus does Allah reward those who are mindful of Him—those whose souls the angels take while they are pure”: that is, believers, purified from associating partners with Allah.

Mujahid said: “Their deeds and words are upright and pure.”