"So grant the disbelievers a respite; give them a little respite," meaning: a little while. This is a threat. The interpretation of al-Kalbi is that it means: the day of Badr.
Muhammad said: "Ruwaydan" (a little/gently) is an attribute for the verbal noun (masdar). The meaning is: grant them a period of respite that is brief.
﴿فمهل الْكَافرين أمهلهم رويدا﴾ أَيْ: قَلِيلًا، وَهَذَا وَعِيدٌ، تَفْسِيرُ الْكَلْبِيِّ: يَعْنِي: يَوْمَ بَدْرٍ.
قَالَ مُحَمَّد: ﴿رويدا﴾ صِفَةٌ لِلْمَصْدَرِ، الْمَعْنَى: أَمْهِلْهِمْ إِمْهَالًا رُوَيْدًا.
