Qays ibn Shammas: 'Allah knows that if Muhammad had commanded us to kill ourselves, I would have killed myself.' So Allah revealed: 'And if We had decreed upon them, "Kill yourselves or leave your homes," they would not have done it, except for a few of them.'
Muhammad said: Whoever recites 'illa qalilun' (except for a few - nominative), the meaning is: 'None would have done it except for a few.' 'And if they had done what they were instructed,' regarding the outcome, 'it would have been better for them and more firm' in terms of protection and immunity from Satan.
قيس بْن شماس: إِن الله يعلم لَو أمرنَا مُحَمَّد أَن نقْتل أَنْفُسنَا لقتلت نَفسِي، فَأنْزل الله: ﴿وَلَوْ أَنَّا كَتَبْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ أَنِ اقْتُلُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ أَوِ اخْرُجُوا مِنْ دِيَارِكُمْ مَا فَعَلُوهُ إِلا قَلِيل مِنْهُم﴾.
قَالَ مُحَمَّد: من قَرَأَ ﴿إِلا قَلِيلٌ﴾ فَالْمَعْنى: مَا فعله إِلَّا قَلِيل. ﴿وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ فَعَلُوا مَا يُوعَظُونَ بِهِ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُمْ﴾ فِي الْعَاقِبَة. ﴿وَأَشد تثبيتا﴾ فِي الْعِصْمَة والمنعة من الشَّيْطَان.
