"Say: Whoever is in misguidance"—this refers to him who dies upon his misguidance—"let the Most Merciful extend for him an extension." This is an invocation that God commanded the Prophet to make. (Folio 205). The meaning is: So let the Most Merciful extend for him an extension. "Until they see that which they are promised, either the punishment or the Hour." This means: either the punishment in this world before the punishment of the Hereafter, or the greater punishment; for God did not send a prophet except that he warned his nation of the punishment of God in this world and His punishment in the Hereafter.
Muhammad said: "The punishment" and "the Hour" are in the accusative case (mansuban) based on the meaning of substitution (badal) from [that which] they are promised. The meaning is: if they see the punishment or if they see the Hour. He said: So they submit at that time. "Who is worse in position"—are they the believers? "And weaker in forces"—in terms of support and protection; meaning: they have no one who can prevent them from the punishment of God.
﴿قُلْ مَنْ كَانَ فِي الضَّلالَةِ﴾ هَذَا الَّذِي يَمُوتُ عَلَى ضَلَالَتِهِ ﴿فليمدد لَهُ الرَّحْمَن مدا﴾ هَذَا دُعَاءٌ أَمَرَ اللَّهُ النَّبِيَّ أَن يَدْعُو بِهِ؛ (ل ٢٠٥) الْمَعْنَى: فَأَمَدَّ لَهُ الرَّحْمَنُ مَدَّا. ﴿حَتَّى إِذَا رَأَوْا مَا يُوعَدُونَ إِمَّا الْعَذَاب وَإِمَّا السَّاعَة﴾ يَعْنِي: إِمَّا الْعَذَابَ فِي الدُّنْيَا قَبْلَ عَذَابِ الْآخِرَةِ، أَوِ الْعَذَابُ الأَكْبَرُ؛ لَمْ يَبْعَثِ اللَّهُ نَبِيًا إِلَّا وَهُوَ يُحَذِّرُ أُمَّتَهُ عَذَابَ اللَّهِ فِي الدُّنْيَا، وَعَذَابَهُ فِي الْآخِرَة.
قَالَ مُحَمَّد: (الْعَذَاب) و (السَّاعَة) مَنْصُوبَانِ عَلَى مَعْنَى الْبَدَلِ مِنْ [مَا] يوعدون؛ الْمَعْنَى: إِذَا رَأُوا الْعَذَابَ أَوْ رَأُوا السَّاعَةَ، قَالَ: فَيُسْلِمُونَ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ. ﴿مَنْ هُوَ شَرٌّ مَكَانًا﴾ أهم الْمُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿وأضعف جندا﴾ فِي النُّصْرَةِ وَالْمَنَعَةِ؛ أَيْ: لَيْسَ لَهُمْ أَحَدٌ يَمْنَعُهُمْ مِنْ عَذَابِ الله
