Tafsir of Ash-Shura 42:28

"And it is He who sends down the rain"—that is, the rain which brings relief from drought. For this reason, the term is specifically used for beneficial rain; thus, not every rain is called ghayth (relief/rain). The majority read yunazzilu (sends down) with a lightened [middle] consonant.

"After they have despaired"—that is, despaired of it. The timing of its descent is restricted to this condition, even though it could have been achieved otherwise, to serve as a reminder of the blessing. Al-A'mash and Ibn Wathab read qanitu with a kasra under the nun.

"And spreads His mercy"—meaning the benefits of the rain and its effects upon everything, from the plains, the mountains, the plants, and the animals. Alternatively, it refers to His vast mercy, which encompasses what was mentioned in a primary way. It is said that "mercy" here means the appearance of the sun, because if the rain continues, they become weary of it, so the sun arrives afterward, which is of great significance—as mentioned by Al-Mahdawi, though this is not substantial. It is also very far-fetched what Al-Suddi said, that the mercy here is the rain itself, effectively repeating the blessing with two different terms. Whatever the case, the pronoun in "His mercy" refers to Allah—Almighty and Majestic is He—though, based on the first interpretation, it is permissible that it refers to the rain.

"And He is the Protector"—the One who takes charge of His servants through benevolence and the spreading of mercy.

"The Praiseworthy"—the One who alone deserves praise for that, Glory be to Him.