So they said, “We have remained a day.” Then they looked and saw that some of the sun still remained, so they said, “Or part of a day.” But when they looked at the length of their hair and fingernails, they realized that they had remained more than a day.

“They said, ‘Your Lord knows best how long you have remained.’” It is also said that when their leader, Miksalmina, heard the disagreement among them, he said, “Leave off disputing; your Lord knows best how long you have remained. So send one of you with this silver coin of yours”—meaning Yamlikha.

Abu ‘Amr, Hamzah, and Abu Bakr recited it as bi-warqikum, with the rā’ unvowelled, while the rest recited it with both letters carrying kasrah. Both readings have the same meaning: silver, whether coined or uncoined.

“To the city”: it was said that this was Tarsus, whose name in the Age of Ignorance was Ephesus; in Islam it came to be called Tarsus.

“And let him see which food is purest”: that is, which food is most lawful, so that it may not have been acquired through usurpation or any unlawful means. It was also said that they instructed him to seek the slaughtered animal of a believer, rather than that of one who slaughtered for other than Allah. There were believers among them who concealed their faith. Al-Dahhak said: the most wholesome food. Muqatil ibn Hayyan said: the best food. ‘Ikrimah said: the most abundant; for the root meaning of zakah is increase. And it was said: the least expensive food.

“So let him bring you provision from it”: that is, sustenance and food for you to eat. “And let him be discreet”: let him proceed gently on the road and in the city, and let him remain concealed and secretive ⦗217/b⦘. “And let no one become aware of you”: that is, let him not inform anyone among the people about you.

“Indeed, if they discover you, they will stone you or force you back into their religion; and then you will never prosper.” (20)