meaning: whoever fulfilled them will have a radiant face, while whoever neglected them will have a dust-covered face.

“So he will have neither strength nor any helper. By the sky that returns, and by the earth that splits open: it is truly a decisive statement, and it is not a jest. Indeed, they are devising a scheme, and I too am devising a scheme. So grant the disbelievers respite; leave them for a little while.”

“So he will have neither strength nor any helper”: that is, this person who denies the resurrection will have no strength by which to protect himself from the punishment of Allah, nor any helper to defend him against Allah.

He then mentioned another oath, saying: “By the sky that returns”—that is, the sky that brings rain, because it returns every year and recurs. Ibn ‘Abbas said: It is the clouds, returning with rain.

“And by the earth that splits open”: that is, it cracks and splits open, bringing forth vegetation, trees, and rivers.

The answer to the oath is His saying, “It”—meaning, the Quran—“is truly a decisive statement”: it is truth and seriousness, distinguishing between truth and falsehood.

“And it is not a jest”: that is, not play or falsehood.

He then informed of the polytheists of Mecca, saying: “Indeed, they are devising a scheme”: they fear the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, yet outwardly display what is contrary to what they conceal.

“And I too am devising a scheme”: Allah’s scheme against them is that He gradually draws them on from where they do not perceive.

“So grant the disbelievers respite.” Ibn ‘Abbas said: This is a threat from Allah to them. “Leave them for a little while”: that is, for a short time. The meaning of “grant respite” and “leave them” is: wait and do not hasten. Then Allah seized them on the Day of Badr, and this reprieve was abrogated by the Verse of the Sword.