what he intended. Here He tells of the punishment of one who withholds what is due, and in al-Baqarah of the punishment of one who deals in usury. This punishment extends to those who employ stratagems to neglect this obligation and commit this forbidden act, as He relates in this surah, and as is witnessed in the punishments and exemplary penalties suffered by those who withhold financial dues and employ usurious stratagems. For when He, glorified be He, blesses a servant with some form of good and commands him to spend in that cause, but he is miserly, He punishes him with some form of evil through which he loses many times what he withheld, while his punishment in the Hereafter remains in store.

He then follows this with the punishment of the arrogant person—the brutal, ignoble man who is called to prostrate and obey but refuses. Thus the surah contains the punishment of both the one who abandons prayer and the one who withholds zakat. The one who abandons prayer is the sinful transgressor, brutal and ignoble; the one who withholds zakat is unjust and miserly.

He concludes the surah by commanding patience, which encompasses sublime character, in His words:

“So be patient with your Lord’s judgment.”

This explicitly commands patience in bearing both the harm inflicted by people and heaven-sent calamities. Patience in the former case is harder. The Companion of the Fish went away angry with his Lord because of the divine command. Hence He says:

“Those who disbelieve would almost strike you down with their eyes,”

and so forth. Thus the surah’s conclusion returns to its opening, in His words:

“By the grace of your Lord, you are not mad,”

and His words:

“And they say, ‘He is indeed mad.’”

Striking someone down with one’s gaze represents the utmost hatred, anger, and harm. Thus patience