Meaning: their description. "And their description in the Gospel," meaning: and their description in the Gospel. "As a plant that brings forth its shoot," the first description is in the Torah, and the other description is in the Gospel. "Shoot" (shata'ahu) means: its sprouts. "So it strengthens it," meaning: it supports it. "And becomes firm," meaning: it hardens. "And stands upon its stalks," meaning: its roots.
Muhammad said: It is said: the plant has sprouted (ash-ta'a), so it is a sprouter (mushti') when it puts forth shoots.
The meaning of "strengthens it" (azara-hu) is: it helps it and empowers it. "Stalks" (suq) is the plural of "stalk" (saq).
"So that it may delight the sowers, that He may enrage by them the disbelievers," meaning: they emerge and are few like a plant when it first emerges weakly, then they increase and gain strength. Thus, He likened them to a plant that delights the sowers, so that He may enrage the disbelievers through them. He says: He only does that with them to enrage the disbelievers through them. "Allah has promised those who believe and do righteous deeds among them forgiveness and a great reward," meaning: Paradise.
