Tafsir of Ta-Ha 20:99

His saying, Exalted is He, "Thus We relate to you," is a renewed statement addressed to the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) by way of a beautiful promise to reveal the likes of what has passed of the news of previous nations. The prepositional phrase is in the position of an adjective for a suppressed verbal noun, or the Kaf (in kadhalika) is in the accusative case as an adjective for that verbal noun. That is: We relate to you from the news of what has preceded—of past events that occurred to vanished nations—a relating that is like this aforementioned relating, or a relating similar to it. The advancement (of the phrase) is for the purpose of restriction, which is useful for increasing specification; meaning: "Just like this," and not less than it.

The "min" (from) in "from the news" either relates to a suppressed word that is an adjective for the direct object, meaning: We relate to you news, or a portion, which is from the news. It is also permissible for it to be in the place of an accusative object for "We relate" based on its content, meaning: We relate some news. Its postponement from "to you" is for the reason mentioned more than once: the importance of the advanced and the stimulation of interest in the postponed. It is also permissible for "Thus We relate" to be like His saying, Exalted is He, "And thus We have made you a middle nation," in that the reference is to the source of the second thing mentioned thereafter, and the verification of this has already passed.

The benefit of this relating is to increase his knowledge (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), multiply his miracles, console him, and serve as a reminder for the insightful among his nation.

"And We have certainly given you from Us a dhikra (a reminder/message)."

A Book containing these stories and reports, worthy of being remembered, contemplated, and reflected upon. The "min" relates to "We have given you." The indefiniteness of dhikra is for glorification. Its postponement from the prepositional phrase is because the essence of the benefit in the sentence is that what was given from His presence, Exalted is He, is a great reminder and a noble Quran, gathering every perfection—not that this reminder was merely "given from His presence, Mighty and Majestic is He"—along with the length that it introduces by what follows it of descriptors. It is also permissible for the prepositional phrase to be in the position of a circumstantial qualifier for dhikra, though that is not as strong.

The interpretation of dhikra as the Quran is what the majority have adopted, and it is narrated from Ibn Zayd. Muqatil said: "That is, a clarification," and its outcome is what was mentioned. Abu Sahl said: "That is, honor and renown among people," but His saying, Exalted is He, does not suit that.