“And so that the disbelievers may know that they were liars”—when they see their deeds become a source of bitter regret, when the deities they invoked besides Allah avail them nothing once the command of your Lord comes, and when they see what they worship becoming firewood for Hell; when the sun and moon are folded up, the stars are scattered, and it becomes clear to those who worship them that they are merely subjugated servants, utterly dependent upon Allah in every circumstance. This is neither difficult nor burdensome for Allah. When He wills something, He merely says to it, “Be!” and it is, without resistance or refusal; rather, it comes to be exactly as He wills and desires. ⦗441⦘

41–42. “As for those who emigrated for Allah’s sake after having been wronged, We will surely grant them a good abode in this world; but the reward of the Hereafter is far greater, if only they knew. * They are those who remained steadfast and placed their trust in their Lord.”

Allah Most High relates the virtue of those believers who were put to the test: “those who emigrated for Allah’s sake”—that is, in His cause and seeking His pleasure—“after having been wronged” through the harm and trials inflicted upon them by their people, who persecuted them in an attempt to turn them back to disbelief and polytheism. They therefore left their homelands and loved ones and departed in obedience to the Most Merciful. Allah mentions two rewards for them: an immediate reward in this world consisting of abundant provision and a pleasant life, which they witnessed with their own eyes after emigrating. They prevailed over their enemies, conquered lands, and acquired immense spoils, thus becoming prosperous; and Allah granted them good in this world.

“But the reward of the Hereafter,” which Allah promised them through His Messenger, “is far greater” than the reward of this world. Allah Most High says:

“Those who believed, emigrated, and strove in Allah’s cause with their wealth and their lives are far higher in rank with Allah. It is they who are the triumphant. * Their Lord gives them glad tidings of mercy from Him, His pleasure, and Gardens in which they will enjoy everlasting bliss, * remaining there forever. Indeed, with Allah is an immense reward.”

His words, “if only they knew,” mean that if people truly knew and were certain of the reward and recompense Allah has in store for those who believe in Him and emigrate in His cause, no one would hold back from doing so.

He then describes His allies, saying: “They are those who remained steadfast” in obeying Allah’s commands, refraining from His prohibitions, enduring His painful decrees, and bearing harm and trials for His sake; “and placed their trust in their Lord”—that is, they rely upon Him, rather than upon themselves, in carrying out what He loves. Through this, their endeavors succeed and their circumstances are set aright. Indeed, steadfastness and trust in Allah are the foundation of every affair. No one ever misses any good except because he fails to remain steadfast and exert himself in what is required of him, or because he fails to trust and rely upon Allah.