“And among His signs is that you see the earth humbled and barren; then, when We send down water upon it, it stirs and swells. Indeed, He who gives it life will surely give life to the dead. Indeed, He is fully able to do all things. (39)

Indeed, those who deviate concerning Our signs are not hidden from Us. Is one cast into the Fire better, or one who comes secure on the Day of Resurrection? Do whatever you wish; indeed, He sees all that you do. (40)”

“But none is granted it”—that is, none is granted this quality, namely repelling evil with what is good—“except those who are patient”: patient in restraining their anger and bearing what they dislike. “And none is granted it except one endowed with a great share”: a great share of goodness and reward. Qatadah said: “The great share is Paradise”—that is, none is granted it except one for whom Paradise has become assured.

“And if an evil suggestion from Satan should provoke you, then seek refuge in Allah. Indeed, He alone is the All-Hearing”—of your seeking refuge and your words—“the All-Knowing”—of your deeds and circumstances.

His saying, exalted is He: “And among His signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or to the moon; rather, prostrate to Allah, who created them”—the feminine plural pronoun in “created them” is used because these are treated as a broken plural, rather than applying the rule by which the masculine takes precedence over the feminine—“if it is Him that you worship.”

“But if they are too proud”—that is, too proud to prostrate—“then those who are with your Lord,” meaning the angels, “glorify Him night and day, and they never grow weary”: they neither tire nor slacken.

“And among His signs,” that is, the indications of His power, “is that you see the earth humbled”: dry, dusty, and without vegetation. “Then, when We send down water upon it, it stirs and swells. Indeed, He who gives it life will surely give life to the dead. Indeed, He is fully able to do all things.”

“Indeed, those who deviate concerning Our signs”: they turn away from the truth concerning Our proofs. Mujahid said: They deviate concerning Our signs through whistling, clapping, idle talk, and clamour. Qatadah said: They deny Our signs. Al-Suddi said: They stubbornly oppose and defy.