Another meaning of “the Most Subtle” is that He leads His servant to good and protects him from evil through hidden ways of which he is unaware; He brings him provision from sources unknown to him; and He places before him circumstances that souls dislike, yet which become a path [for him] (1) to the highest ranks and loftiest stations.

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(35) “Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the devoutly obedient men and devoutly obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humbly submissive men and humbly submissive women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their chastity and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so—for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.”

Having mentioned the reward of the Messenger’s wives—peace and blessings be upon him—and their punishment [if their failure to comply were hypothetically assumed] (2), and having stated that no other women are like them, Allah mentioned all other women.

Since their ruling is the same as that of men, He made the ruling apply to both, saying, “Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women.” This refers to outward religious duties, provided that they uphold them. “And the believing men and believing women.” This refers to inward matters, including the beliefs and deeds of the heart.

“And the devoutly obedient men”—that is, those who obey Allah and His Messenger—“and the devoutly obedient women; the truthful men” in their words and deeds, “and the truthful women; the patient men” in the face of hardships and calamities, “and the patient women; the humbly submissive men” in all their circumstances, especially in their acts of worship and, more particularly, in their prayers, “and the humbly submissive women; the charitable men,” whether giving obligatory or voluntary charity, “and the charitable women; the fasting men and fasting women”—this includes both obligatory and voluntary fasting—“the men who guard their chastity” from illicit sexual relations and the things leading to them, “and the women who do so; and the men who remember Allah [often”—that is,] (3) during most times, particularly at the prescribed times of remembrance, such as morning and evening and after the obligatory prayers—“and the women who remember Him.”

“For them Allah has prepared”—that is, for those described by these beautiful qualities and noble virtues, which encompass beliefs, deeds of the heart, deeds of the limbs, words of the tongue, benefits extending to others and benefits confined to oneself, the performance of good and the abandonment of evil. Whoever upholds all these qualities has upheld the religion in its entirety, outwardly and inwardly, through submission, faith, and excellence.

Thus, He rewarded them for their deeds “with forgiveness” of their sins, for good deeds erase bad deeds, “and a great reward” whose measure none can fathom except the One who grants it: that which no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and which has never occurred to any human heart. We ask Allah to make us among them.