He means by that: You said to us, "Desist so that we may desist." That is because if "laʿalla" (perhaps/so that) in this context had denoted doubt, they would not have bound them with every solemn pledge.

---

The discourse regarding the Interpretation of His statement, majestic is His praise: {[He] who made for you the earth a resting place}

And His statement: "[He] who made for you the earth a resting place" refers back to the first "who" in His statement, "Worship your Lord who created you," and both are descriptors of "your Lord." It is as though He said: Worship your Lord, your Creator, and the Creator of those before you, who made the earth a resting place for you. He means by this that He made the earth a smoothed cradle (1) and a stable abode to settle upon. Our Lord, majestic is His remembrance, reminds His servants—by this statement of His—of His blessings upon them and His favors to them, (2) so that they may remember His favors toward them and turn to His obedience in repentance—out of affection from Him toward them, compassion for them, and mercy unto them, without any need on His part for their worship, but rather to complete His blessing upon them and that they might be guided.

475- As Mūsā ibn Hārūn narrated to me, he said: ʿAmr narrated to us, he said: Asbāṭ narrated to us, from al-Suddī, in a report he mentioned, from Abū Mālik and from Abū Ṣāliḥ, from Ibn ʿAbbās—and from Murra (3), from Ibn Masʿūd, and from some people among the Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings of God be upon him: "[He] who made for you the earth a resting place," namely, it is a bed walked upon, and it is the cradle and stable abode. (4)

476- Bishr ibn Muʿādh narrated to us, he said: Yazīd ibn Zurayʿ narrated to us, from Saʿīd, from Qatāda: "[He] who made for you the earth a resting place," he said: A cradle for you.