"May Allah pardon you, why did you give them permission until it becomes clear to you who are truthful," meaning: those who have a valid excuse, "and you come to know the liars," meaning: those who have no excuse. Qatadah said: When this verse was revealed: "May Allah pardon you, why did you give them permission," it was difficult for them, so Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, revealed after that in Surat an-Nur: "So when they ask your permission for some of their affairs, then give permission to whom you wish among them," and it abrogated the verse that is in Bara'ah.
﴿عَفا الله عَنْك لما أَذِنْتَ لَهُمْ حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكَ الَّذين صدقُوا﴾ يَعْنِي: مَنْ لَهُ عذرٌ ﴿وَتَعْلَمَ الْكَاذِبين﴾ أَيْ: مَنْ لَا عُذْرَ لَهُ. قَالَ قَتَادَةُ: لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ: ﴿عَفَا اللَّهُ عَنْكَ لِمَ أَذِنت لَهُم﴾ اشْتَدَّتْ عَلَيْهِمْ، فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ ﷿ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فِي سُورَةِ النُّور: ﴿فَإِذا استئذنوك لِبَعْضِ شَأْنِهِمْ فَأْذَنْ لِمَنْ شِئْتَ مِنْهُم﴾ فَنَسَخَتِ الآيَةَ الَّتِي فِي بَرَاءَةَ.
