Tafsir of An-Nahl 16:121

(Giving thanks for His favors) is the third description of Ummah (in the preceding verse). The prepositional phrase (li-an‘umihi) is linked to shākiran (giving thanks), as is apparent. The plural form indicating a small number (an‘um) was preferred; it is said: to signal that he (peace be upon him) would not neglect to give thanks for even a small favor, so how much more so for the great ones? And to explicitly state that he (peace be upon him) was the opposite of those who are ungrateful for the favors of Allah Almighty, as indicated by the parable struck. It is also said: that the plural of small number here is used metaphorically for a plural of abundance, but there is no need for that.

In some traditions, it is mentioned that he (peace be upon him) would not eat lunch unless with a guest. One day, he did not find a guest, so he delayed his lunch. Suddenly, he found a group of angels (peace be upon them) in human form, so he invited them to eat. They imagined that they were afflicted with leprosy, so he said: "Now it has become incumbent; I shall eat with you, giving thanks to Allah Almighty that He has spared me from that with which He has afflicted you." Abu al-Baqa’ permitted the possibility that the prepositional phrase is linked to the saying of Allah Almighty: (He chose him), though this is contrary to the apparent meaning. Some have posited that the link is to an omitted word, meaning: He selected and chose him for prophethood. The root of ijtibā’ (choosing) is gathering by way of selection. It is used for Allah Almighty’s specification of a servant with a divine effusion from which he obtains various types of blessings without any effort on his part, and this is for the prophets (peace be upon them) and those close to them.

(And He guided him to a straight path): one that leads to Him, the Almighty, and it is the creed of Islam. The result of this guidance—as stated in Irshād al-‘Aql al-Salīm—is not merely his own guidance (peace be upon him), but also the guiding of creation to it and inviting them to it, with the support of the context of ijtibā’ (choosing).

Some permitted that (to a straight path) be linked to both (He chose him) and (He guided him) by way of tanāzu‘ (competing for governance). The sentence is either a state (hāl) with the implied qad according to the popular view, or a second predicate for anna (that). Abu al-Baqa’ also permitted it to be an independent commencement (isti’nāf).