Tafsir of Al-Ahzab 33:8

"That He may question the truthful about their truthfulness"

It is said that this is linked to an implicit, introductory verb intended to clarify the reason for the aforementioned taking [of the covenant] and its ultimate purpose; that is, Allah the Exalted did that so that He might question, etc. It is also said that it is linked to "We took," but this is countered by the view that the intent is to remind [them] of the covenant itself, then to clarify its reason and purpose intentionally, as indicated by the shift in style through the transition (iltifat) to the third person.

The "truthful" (al-sadiqeen) refers to the prophets whose covenant was taken. They are placed in the position of their pronoun to signal from the very beginning that they were truthful in what they were questioned about, and that the questioning is merely for a wisdom that necessitates it. That is, Allah the Exalted will ask the prophets on the Day of Resurrection, who were truthful to their covenants, about the truthful speech they delivered to their nations, or about the affirmation their nations gave them. The questioning of them, peace be upon them, regarding this—in either of the two views—is to rebuke the disbelieving deniers, as in His saying: "The day Allah will gather the messengers and say, 'What answer were you given?'"

Alternatively, the term refers to those who affirmed the prophets. The meaning is: to question those who affirmed the prophets about their affirmation of them, whereby it is said, "Did you affirm?" It is also said that it is asked of them, "Was your affirmation for the sake of Allah the Exalted?" The logic for this intent is that the one who affirms the truthful is [also] truthful, and their affirmation is truth. It is also said that the meaning is to question the believers who were true to their covenant when He took them as witnesses against themselves, about the truthfulness of their covenant. This is countered by the argument that the context of reminding the prophets of the covenant rejects this.

"And He has prepared for the disbelievers a painful punishment."

It is said that this is a conjunction to an implicit verb linked to what preceded it. It is also said to be linked to an inferred one indicated by "That He may question," as if it were said: "So He rewarded the believers, and He prepared for the disbelievers, etc." It is also said that it is linked to "We took," which is a semantic conjunction, as if it were said: "Allah the Exalted emphasized to the prophets the call to His religion for the sake of rewarding the believers, and He prepared for the disbelievers, etc."

It is also said to be linked to "He will question" by interpreting it as the present tense, though it requires observing a relationship [between the two] to make the conjunction sound. It is also said that it is linked to an implicit verb, and the speech contains ihtibak (ellipsis/reciprocal omission), where the estimation is: "That He may question the truthful about their truthfulness and prepare for them a great reward, and question the liars about their lies and prepare for them a painful punishment," so He omitted from each that which was established in the other. It is also said that the sentence is a state (hal) from the pronoun in "He will question," with an assumed "qad" or without it, and it is not hidden that this is the least burdened [interpretation].