Tafsir of As-Saffat 37:75

This is a type of elaboration on what was summarized previously, by clarifying the states of some of the messengers and the goodness of their outcomes. It includes an explanation of the evil outcome of some of those who were warned—such as the people of Noah, peace be upon him—and the good outcome of others whom Allah, the Exalted, made sincere (or who made their religion sincere, based on the two recitations)—such as the people of Yunus, peace be upon him. The prioritization of the story of Noah, peace be upon him, over the rest of the stories is self-evident. His calling out, peace be upon him, includes invoking [judgment] against the disbelievers of his people, asking for salvation, and requesting support.

The lam is situated as the answer to an omitted oath, as is the case in His saying, the Exalted: "For excellent are We to respond." The subject specifically praised therein is omitted, and the fa is fasiha (eloquent/explicative). That is: "By Allah, Noah called upon Us when he despaired of the faith of his people, after he had called them for ages and eras, yet his call only increased them in flight and aversion. So We responded to him in the best of ways, for by Allah, excellent are We to respond."

Thus, what was omitted was omitted due to confidence in the indication provided by what was mentioned. The plural form is used for majesty and pride, which carries within it an aggrandizement of the response. Ibn Marduyah recorded from Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, that she said: "When the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, used to pray in my house and pass by this verse: 'And Noah had called Us, for excellent are We to respond,' he would say: 'You have spoken the truth, our Lord. You are the nearest of those who are called and the nearest of those who are sought. Excellent is the One called, excellent is the Giver, excellent is the One asked, excellent is the Protector, and You are our Lord, and excellent is the Helper.'"