Allah, exalted is He, says: “He knows that there will be among you those who are ill, others traveling throughout the land seeking Allah’s bounty”—that is, travelers engaged in trade, seeking Allah’s provision—“and others fighting in Allah’s cause,” who are unable to sustain the night prayer.

Ibrahim narrated from Ibn Mas‘ud that he said: “Any man who brings goods to one of the cities of the Muslims, patiently seeking Allah’s reward, and sells them at the market price, will hold with Allah the rank of the martyrs.” Then Abdullah recited: “And others travel throughout the land seeking Allah’s bounty”—meaning travelers engaged in trade, seeking Allah’s provision (1)—“and others ⦗178⦘ fight in Allah’s cause” (2).

“So recite whatever is easy of it,” that is, whatever of the Quran is easy for you (3). The commentators said (4): This applied in the early period of Islam, then it was abrogated by the five daily prayers. This is indicated by His saying: “Establish the prayer, give zakah, and lend Allah a goodly loan.” Ibn Abbas said: This refers to deeds besides zakah, such as maintaining ties of kinship and showing hospitality to guests.

“And whatever good you send forth for yourselves, you will find it with Allah better and greater in reward”: that is, you will find its reward in the Hereafter better than what you gave, and greater in reward than that which you delayed and did not send forth. The words “better” and “greater” are in the accusative as the second object, for the verb “find,” when used in the sense of “see,” takes two objects. The pronoun “it” is a separating pronoun according to the Basran grammarians, and a supporting pronoun according to the Kufans; it has no syntactic position.

Abu al-Qasim Yahya ibn Ali al-Kushmihini informed us; Abu Nasr Ahmad ibn Ali al-Bukhari informed us in Kufa; Abu al-Qasim Nasr ibn Ahmad al-Faqih informed us in Mosul; Abu Ya‘la al-Mawsili narrated to us; Abu Khaythamah narrated to us; Jarir narrated to us, from al-A‘mash, from Ibrahim al-Taymi, from al-Harith ibn Suwayd, who said: Abdullah said: The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “Which of you loves his own wealth more than the wealth of his heir?” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, there is none among us whose own wealth is not dearer to him than the wealth of his heir.” He said: “Consider carefully what you are saying.” They said, “We know nothing other than that, O Messenger of Allah.” He said: “There is none among you