"But We brought forth generations, and life became prolonged for them." There were five hundred years between Jesus and Muhammad, and it is said: six hundred years. "And you were not a resident among the people of Madyan, reciting to them Our verses," meaning: You were not, O Muhammad, a resident in Madyan, so that you would know how their affair was and inform the people of Mecca of their state and their command.
﴿وَلَكِنَّا أَنْشَأْنَا قُرُونًا فَتَطَاوَلَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْعُمر﴾ كَانَ بَين عِيسَى وَمُحَمّد خَمْسمِائَة سنة، وَقيل: سِتّمائَة سَنَةٍ ﴿وَمَا كُنْتَ ثَاوِيًا فِي أَهْلِ مَدْيَنَ تَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِنَا﴾ أَيْ: لَمْ تَكُنْ يَا مُحَمَّدُ مُقِيمًا بِمَدْيَنَ؛ فَتَعْلَمَ كَيْفَ كَانَ أَمْرُهُمْ، فَتُخْبِرَ أَهْلَ مَكَّةَ بِشَأْنِهِمْ وَأمرهمْ
