and it was also said: the freeing of a human being and the release of a slave. It was also said: ransoming captives.

“And establishes the prayer and gives zakah”: that is, he gives zakah. “And those who fulfil their covenant,” both in what lies between them and Allah, exalted is He, and in what lies between them and other people. “Whenever they make a covenant”: that is, whenever they promise, they fulfil it; whenever they swear an oath or make a vow, they honour it; whenever they make a covenant, they fulfil it; whenever they speak, they tell the truth; and whenever they are entrusted, they discharge their trust.

The scholars differed regarding the nominative construction of the words, “and those who fulfil.” It was said that it is coordinated with a predicate, its meaning being: Rather, the people of righteousness are the believers and those who fulfil their covenant. It was also said that its implied meaning is: and they are those who fulfil—just as though He had enumerated categories and then said: they are, and those who fulfil, such-and-such. It was also said that it is in the nominative as a subject, with its predicate implied; that is, they are those who fulfil.

He then says, “and the patient.” There are four explanations for its accusative construction:

Abu Ubaydah said: It is accusative because the statement has become lengthy. It is Arab usage to alter the case inflection when the speech and coordination become prolonged. A similar instance occurs in Surat al-Ma'idah: “and those who establish the prayer” (Surat al-Ma'idah, 162), and “the Sabians and the Christians.” It was also said that its meaning is: I mean, the patient. It was also said that it is accusative through coordination with “relatives”; that is, “and he gave to the patient.”

Al-Khalil said: It is put in the accusative for praise. The Arabs put words in the accusative for praise and blame, [as though they wish to single out the one praised or blamed; thus, they do not make it follow what precedes in the sentence, but put it in the accusative. An example of praise is His saying, exalted is He: “and those who establish the prayer”] (1) (al-Nisa, 162).

An example of blame is His saying, exalted is He: “Accursed, wherever they are found” (al-Ahzab, 61).

His saying, exalted is He, “in hardship”: that is, adversity and poverty; “and suffering”: illness and chronic disability; “and at the time of battle”: that is, fighting and war.

Al-Mutahhar ibn Ali ibn Abd Allah al-Farisi informed us; Abu Dharr Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Salahani informed us; Abu Muhammad Abd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn Jafar ibn Hibban informed us; Abd Allah ibn Muhammad al-Baghawi informed us; Ali ibn al-Jad informed us; Zuhayr informed us, from Abu Ishaq, from Harithah ibn Mudarrib, from Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: Whenever the fighting grew fierce and he encountered