“We created them and strengthened their forms [asrahum],” meaning: their creation.
Muhammad said: The root of the word comes from "al-isar," which is the binding. It is said: "How excellent is the way he bound his saddle [qatahu]," meaning: how excellent is the way he strengthened it!
“And if We willed, We could replace them with others similar to them [amthalahum],” meaning: We would destroy them with punishment and replace them with others similar to them, or better than them.
خلقناهم وشددنا أسرهم﴾ يَعْنِي: خَلْقَهُمْ.
قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ: أَصْلُ الْكَلِمَةِ مِنَ (الْإِسَارِ)، وَهُوَ الْقَدُّ، يُقَالُ: مَا أَحْسَنَ مَا أَسَرَّ قَتَبه، أَيْ: مَا أَحْسَنَ مَا شَدَّه!
﴿وَإِذَا شِئْنَا بَدَّلْنَا أَمْثَالَهُمْ﴾ أَيْ: أَهْلَكْنَاهُمْ بِالْعَذَابِ، وَبَدَّلْنَا أَمْثَالَهُمْ: خيرا مِنْهُم.
