Tafsir of Ash-Shu`ara' 26:129

**(And you take masani')**: meaning, you build masani', which are reservoirs for water and subterranean channels, as narrated from Qatada. In another narration from him, it is said they are water basins. According to Mujahid, they are elevated palaces. It is also said: they are fortified strongholds, and they recited the verse of Labid as evidence: And after us, mountains and masani' will remain. However, this is not a decisive text for the claim.

( la'allakum takhludun - that you might abide eternally ): meaning, hoping that you will abide forever in this world, or acting the actions of one who hopes for eternal life in it. Thus, la'alla (that/might) remains upon its literal meaning of hope. It is also said that it denotes causality (ta'lil). In the recitation of ‘Abdullah [ibn Mas’ud], it is kay takhludun (in order that you might abide eternally). Ibn Zayd said: It is for interrogation by way of rebuke and mockery of them, meaning: "Will you abide eternally?" The position that la'alla signifies interrogation is a Kufan school of thought.

Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with both of them) said: The meaning is "as if you were to abide eternally." It has been recited in this manner, as narrated from Qatada, and in the codex of Ubayy [ibn Ka’b] it appears as (ka-annakum takhludun - as if you were to abide eternally). The apparent implication of what has been mentioned is that la'alla here functions for comparison (tashbih), and Al-Waqidi explicitly reported this from Al-Baghawi. In Al-Burhan, it is stated that this is a strange meaning not mentioned by the grammarians, though it occurs in Sahih al-Bukhari that la'alla in this verse denotes comparison.

Qatada recited (tukhladun) in the passive voice, unsharpened (without tashdid). It is said: khalada ash-shay’ (a thing remained), and akhladahu ghayruhu (another made it remain). Ubayy and ‘Alqama recited (tukhalladun) in the passive voice, sharpened (tashdid), as the poet said: And will he ever live, except a happy one, made to abide eternally, With few anxieties, never passing the night in fear.