Tafsir of Ar-Rahman 55:69-70

"In them are excellent, beautiful [women]" (55:70). This is another description of the gardens, or a predicate following a predicate for the omitted subject, similar to the preceding sentence. It is permissible for it to be an initiating sentence. The discussion regarding the plural pronoun here is the same as the discussion regarding the pronoun in His saying: "In them are those who restrain their gaze" (55:56).

As for khayrat (excellent/beautiful): Abu Hayyan said it is the plural of khayyirah, a noun formed upon the pattern of fi‘lah from al-khayr (goodness), just as they formed sharrah from al-sharr (evil). Al-Zamakhshari said: Its origin is khayyirat with a doubled ya, then it was lightened, as in his—peace and blessings be upon him—saying: "Hayyinun layyinun" (easy-going and gentle). It is not a plural in the sense of the superlative (al-af‘al), for one does not say khayyirun or khayrat in that sense. Perhaps this is because the basic rule for a superlative noun is that it should not be pluralized, especially when it is indefinite. Bakr bin Habib, Abu ‘Uthman al-Nahdi, and Ibn Miqsam read it as khayyirat with a doubled ya, which supports the view that this is its origin. It is narrated from Abu ‘Amr that he read it as khayirat with a fatha on the ya, as if it were the plural of khayirah, pluralized upon the pattern of fa‘lah (like hasan).

"Beautiful" (55:70). It is said: That is, beautiful in character and appearance. ‘Abd al-Razzaq, ‘Abd bin Humayd, and Ibn Jarir narrated from Qatadah that he said regarding this verse: "Excellent in character, beautiful in countenance." Ibn Jarir, al-Tabarani, and Ibn Marduyah narrated this from Umm Salamah as a marfu‘ (elevated) hadith.