The lām is added as the response to an implicit oath; that is: By Allah, He will surely grant them succession. In other words, He will surely make them inherit the lands of the disbelievers, Arabs and non-Arabs alike, making them their kings, governors, and inhabitants. “Just as He granted succession to those before them.” Abu Bakr, narrating from ‘Asim, recited it in the passive voice, “just as those before them were granted succession,” with the initial t given the u-vowel and the lām the i-vowel. The others recited it in the active voice, with both the t and the lām given the a-vowel, in view of His saying, exalted is He: “Allah has promised.”

Qatadah said: “Just as He granted succession” to David, Solomon, and other prophets besides them. It was also said: “Just as He granted succession to those before them,” meaning the Children of Israel, when He destroyed the tyrants in Egypt and the Levant and caused them to inherit their lands and homes. “And He will surely establish for them their religion, which He has chosen for them,” that is, which He has selected. Ibn ‘Abbas said: He will grant them ample scope throughout the lands, until they possess them, and He will make their religion prevail over all other religions.

“And He will surely replace for them”: Ibn Kathir, Abu Bakr, and Ya‘qub recited it in the lighter form, denoting replacement, while the others recited it in the intensive form, denoting alteration; both are accepted linguistic forms. Some said that alteration is the changing of one state into another, whereas replacement is the removal of one thing and the putting of another in its place. “After their fear, security, worshipping Me,” that is, worshipping Me in safety, “associating nothing with Me.” Thus Allah fulfilled His promise, made His religion prevail, granted victory to His devoted servants, and replaced their fear with security and free scope in the land.

‘Abd al-Wahid al-Mulayhi informed us; Ahmad ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Nu‘aymi informed us; Muhammad ibn Yusuf informed us; Muhammad ibn Isma‘il informed us; Muhammad ibn al-Hakam informed us; al-Nadr informed us; Isra’il informed us; Sa‘id al-Tahiri informed us; Muhammad ibn Khalifah informed us, from ‘Adi ibn Hatim, who said:

While I was with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, a man came to him and complained of poverty. Then another came and complained of banditry on the roads. He said, “O ‘Adi, have you seen al-Hirah?” I said, “I have not seen it, but I have heard of it.” He said, “If you live long enough, you will surely see a woman travel from al-Hirah until she circumambulates the Ka‘bah, fearing no one but Allah.”

I said to myself, “Then where will the marauders of Tayy, who have thrown the land into turmoil, be?” He continued, “And if you live long enough, the treasures of Kisra will surely be opened.” I said, “Kisra son of Hurmuz?” He said, “Kisra son of Hurmuz. If you live long enough, you will surely see a man bring out a palmful of gold and silver, seeking someone to accept it from him, yet finding no one to accept it from him. Every one of you will surely meet Allah on the Day of Resurrection, with no interpreter between him and Allah to interpret for him. He will say to him, ‘Did I not send you a messenger to convey My message to you?’ He will say, ‘Indeed.’ He will say, ‘Did I not give you wealth ⦗43/a⦘ and bestow favor upon you?’ He will say, ‘Indeed.’ Then he will look to his right and see nothing but Hell, and he will look to his left and see nothing but Hell.”

‘Adi said: I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, “Protect yourselves from the Fire, even with half a date; and whoever cannot find that, then with a good word.”

‘Adi said: I saw the woman travel from al-Hirah until she circumambulated the Ka‘bah, fearing none but Allah. I was among those who opened the treasures of Kisra son of Hurmuz. And if you live long enough, you will surely see what the Prophet Abu al-Qasim, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, foretold: a man will bring forth a palmful. (1)