Tafsir of Al-Waqi'ah 56:10

"And the Foremost, the Foremost" is the third category of the three groups. Perhaps their mention was delayed, despite them being the foremost of the groups and the earliest in virtue, in order to follow their mention with an explanation of the excellence of their states. Furthermore, presenting them under the title of "foremost" in an absolute sense serves to indicate that they have secured the winning prize in every respect.

There is a difference of opinion regarding their identity:

• It is said: They are those who were the first to embrace faith and obedience upon the appearance of the truth, without hesitation or slackness. This is narrated from ‘Ikrimah and Muqatil.
• Ibn Marduyah narrated from Ibn Abbas that he said: It was revealed concerning the believer of the family of Pharaoh, Habib al-Najjar (mentioned in Surah Ya-Sin), and Ali ibn Abi Talib—may Allah honor his face. Each of them was the foremost of his nation, and Ali is the most excellent of them.
• It is said: They are those who were foremost in acquiring perfections, such as certain knowledge and levels of piety attained after faith.
• It is said: They are the Prophets—peace be upon them—because they are the leaders of the people of religion.
• Ibn Sirin said: They are those who prayed toward both Qiblahs, as the Almighty said: "And the first forerunners [in the faith] among the Muhajireen and the Ansar."
• From Ibn Abbas: They are the foremost to migrate (Hijrah).
• From Ali—may Allah honor his face: They are the foremost to the five daily prayers.
• Abu Nu’aym and al-Daylami narrated from Ibn Abbas in a marfu’ (elevated) hadith: "The first to go to the mosque and the last to leave it."
• 'Abd ibn Humayd and Ibn al-Mundhir narrated from ‘Ubadah ibn Abi Sawdah, the freed slave of ‘Ubadah ibn al-Samit, who said: "It has reached us that they are the foremost to the mosques and to going out in the way of Allah, the Exalted and Majestic."
• From al-Dahhak: They are the foremost to Jihad.
• From Ibn Jubayr: They are the foremost to repentance and deeds of righteousness.
• Ka’b said: They are the people of the Quran.
• In Al-Bahr, it is mentioned that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked about the "Foremost," and he replied: "They are those who, when the truth is presented to them, accept it; when they are asked for something, they give it; and they judge for others as they would judge for themselves."
• It is said: People are three: A man who initiated goodness in the prime of his youth and remained upon it until he departed from the world—this is the Foremost. A man who started his life with sin and long negligence, then turned back with repentance—this is the Companion of the Right. And a man who started his life in evil and remained upon it until he departed from the world—this is the Companion of the Left.
• From Ibn Kusayyan: They are those who hasten to everything that Allah, the Exalted, has called them to. Some have favored this view due to its generality, regarding what was mentioned in the other opinions as merely illustrative examples.

Regardless of this, the common interpretation is that the phrase is a subject (mubtada') and predicate (khabar). The meaning is: "The Foremost are those whose states are renowned and whose greatness is known," similar to the saying: I am Abu al-Najm, and my poetry is my poetry. There is, in this, an exaltation of their status and a declaration of the widespread fame of their virtue that is not hidden.

It is also said that the object of the first "foremost" is different from the object of the second—meaning: The foremost in obedience to Allah, the Exalted, are the foremost to His mercy, or the foremost to goodness, or the foremost to Paradise. The first estimation is reported from the author of Al-Murshid.

You know that the predicative construction is beneficial without that, as you have heard; indeed, it is more eloquent and more suitable for the context. In any case, His saying, the Exalted: