Tafsir of Sad 38:80

The delivery of the answer in the form of a nominal sentence, while simultaneously encompassing those whom the other party asked about—in a manner that implies the petitioner followed them in that regard—is explicit evidence that this is an information regarding the respite already decreed for them in eternity (pre-eternity), not the initiation of a special respite for him that occurred in response to his supplication.

Furthermore, his request for respite was a plea for the postponement of death—since through it his being one of them is realized—rather than a postponement of punishment, as has been suggested. For that is already known from attaching him to them, meaning: "Indeed, you are of the number of those whose appointed times (death) were postponed in eternity, according to what the wisdom of creation necessitates."