“Those will be rewarded with the lofty abode for what they patiently endured, and therein they will be received with greetings and peace.” (75)

“Abiding therein forever—excellent is it as a place of settlement and residence.” (76)

“Say: ‘What concern would my Lord have for you were it not for your supplication? Yet you have denied, so it will inevitably befall you.’” (77)

“Those will be rewarded”: that is, they will be recompensed. “The lofty abode” means the elevated rank in Paradise. A lofty chamber is every high, elevated structure. Ata said: It refers to chambers of pearl, chrysolite, and ruby in Paradise. “For what they patiently endured”: in obeying Allah Most High and carrying out His commands. It was also said: in bearing the harm inflicted by the idolaters. And it was said: in restraining themselves from lustful desires.

“And therein they will be received”: Hamzah, al-Kisa'i, and Abu Bakr recited it with an a-vowel on the initial letter and an ungeminated qaf, as in His saying: “They will meet misguidance” (Mary 59). The other reciters read it with a u-vowel on the initial letter and a geminated qaf, as in His saying: “And He will grant them radiance and joy” (al-Insan 11).

“Greetings” means royal honor. It was also said to mean everlasting continuance. “And peace” means that they will greet one another with peace. Al-Kalbi said: They will greet one another with peace, and the Lord will send them peace. It was also said that “peace” means safety from afflictions.

“Abiding therein forever—excellent is it as a place of settlement and residence”: that is, a place in which to settle and remain.

“Say: ‘What concern would my Lord have for you?’” Mujahid and Ibn Zayd said: That is, what would He do with you, and what would He make of you? Abu Ubaydah said: One says, “I did not count it as anything,” meaning, “I did not regard it as anything”; its existence and nonexistence are alike. Its figurative sense is: What weight or worth do you have with Him?

“Were it not for your supplication to Him.” It was also said: were it not for your faith; and it was said: were it not for your worship. Another view is that it means: were it not for His calling you to Islam; then, when you believe, you acquire worth.

Some said that its meaning is: Say, “My Lord would have no concern for your creation were it not for your worship and obedience to Him.” That is, He created you for His worship, as He says: “I did not create jinn and mankind except to worship Me” (al-Dhariyat 56). This was the view of Ibn Abbas and Mujahid.

Others said that “Say: ‘What concern would my Lord have for you?’” means: My Lord would have no concern for forgiving you were it not for your invoking other gods alongside Him; or: What would He do by punishing you, were it not for your associating partners with Him? As Allah Most High says: “Why should Allah punish you if you are grateful and believe?” (al-Nisa’ 147).

It was also said: What concern would my Lord have for punishing you, were it not for your calling upon Him in times of hardship? As He says: “Then, when they board a ship, they call upon Allah” (al-Ankabut 65); and He says: “We afflicted them with hardship and adversity so that they might humble themselves” (al-An‘am 42).

It was also said that “Say: ‘What concern would my Lord have for you were it not for your supplication?’” means: I did not create you because I had any need of you; rather, only so that you would ask Me and I would give to you, and seek My forgiveness and I would forgive you.

“But you have denied”—O disbelievers. He is addressing the people of Mecca; that is, Allah called you, through the Messenger, to His oneness and His worship, but you denied the Messenger and did not respond to him. “So it will inevitably befall you”: this is His threat to them; that is, your denial will become inescapable. Ibn Abbas said: death. Abu Ubaydah said: destruction. Ibn Zayd said: fighting. The meaning is: it will be—