Al-Hujurat: (5) If only they had been patient...

This indicates the proper etiquette that was contrary to the bad manners they exhibited. If they had been patient, they would not have needed to call out. If you were to come out to them, it is not appropriate for them to approach you at a time when you are secluded with yourself, your family, or your Lord, because the self has a right, and the family has a right.

The Almighty's saying: {it would have been better for them} admits of two interpretations:

1. That what is meant is that this [patience] is the good and the best, like His saying: {a resting place that is better} (Al-Furqan: 24).
2. That what is meant is that by calling out and lack of patience, they achieved the immediate fulfillment of their need. This is desirable, but preserving and honoring the Prophet (peace be upon him) is better than that, because it addresses the fundamental need pertaining to the Hereafter, whereas worldly needs are secondary.

The implied subject of the verb kāna (would have been) is either:

1. Patience itself: Meaning, if they had been patient, patience would have been better.
2. Your coming out without being called: Meaning, if they had been patient until you came out to them, your coming out without a summons would have been better for them. This aligns better with the narrative, as they requested his coming out (peace be upon him) to take their offspring. He came out, freed half of them, and they took the other half. If they had been patient, all of them would have been freed. The first interpretation is more sound.

This confirms two matters:

1. Regarding their bad conduct in hastening: When a servant commits an offense and the master does not punish him, it is said, "How forbearing is the master!" This is not to state the master's forbearance, but to highlight the magnitude of the servant's transgression.
2. Regarding the virtue of patience: Because they performed the better deed [of patience], Allah will forgive their sins and make this good deed an expiation for many sins. It is like saying to a runaway slave who returns to his master's door, "Well done for your return, and your Master is Merciful," meaning He will not punish you for your past sin because of the good deed you have now performed.

It can also be said that this is an encouragement to the Prophet (peace be upon him) to pardon them.

The Almighty's saying: {Most of them do not understand} serves as an excuse for them. We have previously mentioned that Allah mentions Forgiveness before Mercy in some places, such as in this Surah, while He mentions Mercy before Forgiveness in Surah Saba' in the verse: {And He is the All-Merciful, the All-Forgiving} (Saba': 2).

When He says Forgiving, Merciful: He forgives their sins, then looks upon them and sees them naked and needy, so He shows them Mercy and clothes them with the garment of honor. Or, He may see them overwhelmed by sins, so He forgives their sins, and then shows them Mercy after the forgiveness. Thus, sometimes the emphasis is on the Mercy that follows Forgiveness, so Forgiveness is mentioned first. Other times, Mercy precedes Forgiveness, so it is mentioned later. Since Mercy is vast, it exists both before and after Forgiveness, it is mentioned both before and after.

! 7 < {O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient person with information, investigate, lest you harm people out of ignorance and then become regretful over what you have done.} > 7 !

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