‘And those who had desired his position the previous day began to say, “Oh! It is as if God extends the provision to whom He wills’—meaning, indeed, God extends provision to whom He wills—‘and [it is as if] the disbelievers do not succeed’—meaning, indeed, the disbelievers do not succeed.”

Muhammad said: Regarding His saying, “Oh! It is as if God…” Abū ʿUbaydah said: Its usage is equivalent to [the expression] “Do you not see?” And I have witnessed much disagreement among the grammarians and the linguists regarding this word, “Oh! It is as if….” So, God knows best what He intended.