⦗2⦘ “It guides to the right way.” The right way is a comprehensive term encompassing everything that directs people to what benefits them in their religion and worldly lives. “We therefore believe in it, and we will never associate anyone with our Lord.” Thus, they combined faith—which encompasses all good deeds—with piety, [which entails abandoning evil]. They regarded what they had learned from the Quran’s guidance—its benefits and advantages and its instruction to avoid harm—as the reason that led them to faith and all that follows from it. This is indeed a tremendous sign and a conclusive proof for anyone who is enlightened by it and follows its guidance. This is beneficial faith, founded upon the Quran’s guidance and bearing the fruit of every good. It stands in contrast to faith born of custom, upbringing, familiarity, and the like, for that is merely imitative faith, vulnerable to doubts and many disruptive influences.

“And exalted is the majesty of our Lord. He has taken neither a wife nor a child.” From Allah’s majesty and greatness, they understood what demonstrated the falsity of those who claim that He has a wife or child. He possesses greatness and perfection (1) in every attribute of perfection, whereas taking a wife or child is incompatible with that, for it contradicts the perfection of His self-sufficiency.

“And the foolish among us used to utter outrageous falsehoods about Allah.” That is, words deviating from the truth and exceeding all bounds. Nothing led him to this except his foolishness and feeble mind; had he been sober-minded and composed, he would have known what to say.