4402 - Muhammad ibn al-'Abbas narrated to us, Muhammad ibn 'Amr Zunayj narrated to us, Salamah narrated to us, who said: Muhammad ibn Ishaq said regarding "So that Allah may make that a regret within their hearts": [It is] due to their lack of certainty in their Lord.

His saying, the Exalted: "And Allah gives life and causes death, and Allah is Seeing of what you do."

4403 - And by the same chain, Muhammad ibn Ishaq said: "And Allah gives life and causes death," meaning: He hastens what He wills or delays what He wills of their appointed times by His power.

His saying, the Exalted: "And if you are killed in the way of Allah or die, then forgiveness from Allah and mercy are better than what they accumulate."

4404 - And by the same chain, Muhammad ibn Ishaq said: "And if you are killed in the way of Allah or die, then forgiveness from Allah and mercy are better than what they accumulate," meaning that death is inevitable and must occur; so dying in the way of Allah or being killed in righteousness—if only they knew and feared Allah—is better than what they accumulate of the world, for which they hold back from Jihad, fearing death and killing because of what they have gathered of the meager worldly life, while having little desire for the Hereafter.

His saying, the Exalted: "And if you die or are killed."

4405 - And by the same chain, he said: Muhammad ibn Ishaq said: "And if you die or are killed," meaning: that is inevitable, so let not the worldly life deceive you, and do not be deceived by it; let the Jihad and what Allah has encouraged you towards regarding it be more beloved to you than it.

His saying, the Exalted: "to Allah you will be gathered."

4406 - And by the same chain, Muhammad ibn Ishaq said: Meaning that the return is to Allah.

His saying, the Exalted: "So by mercy from Allah, you were gentle with them."

4407 - Al-Hasan ibn Ahmad narrated to us, Musa ibn Muhkam narrated to us, Abu Bakr al-Hanafi narrated to us, 'Abbad ibn Mansur narrated to us, who said: I asked al-Hasan about His saying: "So by mercy from Allah, you were gentle with them," he said: This is the character of Muhammad, which Allah has described.

4408 - Muhammad ibn Yahya narrated to us, al-'Abbas ibn al-Walid informed us, Yazid ibn Zuray' narrated to us, Sa'id narrated to us, from Qatadah regarding His saying: "So by mercy from Allah, you were gentle with them," he says: "So by a mercy from Allah, you were gentle with them."