His saying, the Exalted: "And that Allah is All-Knowing of everything."

[6866] And by the same chain, from Sa‘id ibn Jubayr, regarding the saying of Allah, "And that Allah is All-Knowing of everything," meaning: He is knowledgeable of your deeds.

His saying, the Exalted: "Know that Allah is Severe in punishment."

[6867] My father narrated to us, Ahmad ibn ‘Abdah narrated to us, Hammad ibn Zayd narrated to us, from ‘Ali ibn Zayd, he said: Mutarrif recited this verse: "Severe in punishment." He said: If people knew the magnitude of Allah’s punishment, Allah’s retribution, Allah’s severity, and Allah’s vengeance, their tears would never cease, and their eyes would find no rest in anything.

His saying, the Exalted: "And that Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

[6868] Muhammad ibn al-‘Abbas narrated to us, Muhammad ibn ‘Amr narrated to us, Salamah narrated to us, he said: Muhammad ibn Ishaq said: "And that Allah is All-Forgiving," meaning He forgives the sin; "Most Merciful," He shows mercy to the servants despite what is in them.

His saying, the Exalted: "The Messenger is not responsible for anything but conveying. And Allah knows what you reveal and what you conceal."

[6869] And by the same chain he said: Muhammad ibn Ishaq said: "And what you conceal," meaning: what you hide.

His saying, the Exalted: "Say, the evil and the good are not equal."

[6870] Ahmad ibn ‘Uthman ibn Hakim al-Awdi informed us in what he wrote to me, Ahmad ibn al-Mufaddal narrated to us, Asbat narrated to us, from al-Suddi, regarding His saying: "The evil and the good are not equal." The evil are the polytheists, and the good are the believers.

His saying, the Exalted: "Even if the abundance of evil impresses you."

[6871] Yunus ibn ‘Abd al-A‘la narrated to us, Ibn Wahb narrated to us, Ya‘qub ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Iskandarani narrated to me, he said: One of his governors wrote to ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz, mentioning that the land tax [kharaj] had decreased. ‘Umar wrote to him, saying: Allah says, "The evil and the good are not equal, even if the abundance of evil impresses you." And ‘Umar wrote to some of his governors: If you are able to be in justice, reform, and benevolence as those who were before you were in injustice, immorality, and transgression, then do so; and there is no power except by Allah.