"Then We replaced the evil with the good," meaning: instead of the adversity and hardship, [We gave them] "the good," meaning: prosperity and well-being. "Until they increased," meaning: they grew in number. "And they said, 'Our fathers were struck with hardship and ease,'" and nothing happened; they meant: what the Prophet was promising his people of punishment if they did not believe.
Surat al-A'raf from verse (96) to verse (101).
﴿ثمَّ بدلنا مَكَان السَّيئَة﴾ أَيْ: مَكَانَ الْبَأْسَاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ ﴿الْحَسَنَةَ﴾ يَعْنِي: الرَّخَاءَ وَالْعَافِيَةَ. ﴿حَتَّى عَفَوْا﴾ أَيْ: كَثُرُوا ﴿وَقَالُوا قَدْ مَسَّ آبَاءَنَا الضراء والسراء﴾ فَلَمْ يَكُنْ شَيْءٌ؛ يَعْنُونَ: مَا كَانَ يَعِدُ النَّبِيُّ بِهِ قَوْمَهُ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ إِنْ لَمْ يُؤْمِنُوا.
سُورَة الْأَعْرَاف من الْآيَة (٩٦) إِلَى الْآيَة (١٠١).
