and makes lawful for them what is wholesome, forbids them what is foul, and removes from them their burden and the shackles that weighed upon them” (al-Aʿrāf 7:157).

“And their likeness in the Gospel is like a crop that sends forth its shoot, then strengthens it, so it grows thick, stands upright upon its stalks, delighting the farmers, so that through them He may enrage the disbelievers.” Their likeness, then, is that of a plant “that sends forth its shoot,” meaning a secondary branch apart from the original stem; “then strengthens it,” that is, He reinforces and supports it; “so it grows thick”—it becomes sturdy; “and stands upright upon its stalks”­—it rises and embraces the main stem; “delighting the farmers,” meaning that people experienced in cultivation admire such a vigorous crop when it has a shoot that supports it.

“so that through them He may enrage the disbelievers,” i.e., Allah thereby vexes the disbelievers among the children of Adam. “Allah has promised those of them who believe and perform righteous deeds forgiveness and a tremendous reward”—forgiveness of sins and a magnificent recompense for good deeds.

The Exalted also says: “And those who had settled in the city and had embraced the faith before them love those who emigrated to them and find in their breasts no desire for what they have been given” (al-Ḥashr 59:9). These are the Anṣār—may Allah be pleased with them. “had settled in the city” refers to Madinah; they inhabited it “before them,” that is, before the Muhājirūn, and they had realized faith even before the believers migrated to them, for faith had entered Madinah prior to the Hijrah. Thus “had settled in the city” means they took up residence there, and “and had embraced the faith” means they firmly believed “before them,” before the Muhājirūn.

“They love those who emigrated to them” because they are their brothers. For this reason, when the emigrants arrived, the Prophet ﷺ established a bond of brotherhood between them, to the point that one of the Anṣār would relinquish half of his wealth to his Muhājir brother. “and find in their breasts no desire for what they have been given,” meaning they feel no envy in their hearts concerning what the Muhājirūn were granted of—