Tafsir of An-Nahl 16:30

{خيراً} (Good): Meaning, "He sent down good."

If you ask: Why is this [word] in the accusative case (naṣb), while the first [in the previous verse] was in the nominative (rafʿ)?

I say: It is to distinguish between the answer of the one who affirms and the answer of the denier. It means that when these [the righteous] were asked, they did not hesitate. They aligned their answer directly with the question, clearly and openly, as the object of the verb "sent down" (inzāl). Thus, they said: "Good," meaning, "He sent down good."

As for the others [the deniers], they diverted their answer away from the question, saying: "It is fables of the ancients," which has nothing to do with "sending down."

It is narrated that the Arab tribes would send people during the pilgrimage season to bring them news of the Prophet (ﷺ). When a delegate arrived, the [Quraysh] mockers would restrain him and order him to leave, saying, "If you do not meet him, it will be better for you." The delegate would reply, "I would be the worst of delegates if I returned to my people without investigating the matter of Muhammad and seeing him." He would then meet the Companions of the Messenger of God (ﷺ), who would inform him of his truthfulness and that he is a sent Prophet. These are the ones who said, "Good."

{لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا} (For those who did good): This and what follows is a substitute (badal) for "good," acting as a narration of what was said to "those who feared God." That is: they said this statement, so He first named it "good," then narrated it. It is also possible that it is a new statement, a promise to those who spoke, making their speech part of their good deeds for which they are praised.

{حَسَنَةٌ} (Good): A reward in this world for their good deeds, and for them in the Hereafter is that which is better than it, as in the verse: "So God gave them the reward of this world and the excellent reward of the Hereafter" (Āl ʿImrān: 148).

{وَلَنِعْمَ دَارُ الْمُتَّقِينَ} (And excellent is the home of the righteous): The home of the Hereafter. The specific subject of the praise (al-maḫṣūṣ bi-l-madḥ) is omitted because it was mentioned previously.

{جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ} (Gardens of perpetual residence): This is the predicate of an omitted subject, or it may be the specific subject of the praise.

{طَيِّبِينَ} (Pure): Purified from wronging themselves through disbelief and disobedience, because this is in contrast to those who "wronged themselves."

{يَقُولُونَ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمُ} (They say, "Peace be upon you"): It is said that when a believing servant is on the verge of death, an angel comes to him and says, "Peace be upon you, O ally of God. God sends you peace," and gives him glad tidings of Paradise.