Tafsir of Maryam 19:76

{And Allah increases} is a conjunction linked to the position of falyamudda (let him extend), because it occupies the position of a predicate. Its estimation is: "Whoever is in misguidance, the Most Merciful extends or will extend [time] for him."

{And increases}: meaning, He increases the misguidance of the misguided by abandoning them, and increases the guided in guidance by granting them success.

{And the enduring good deeds}: these are all the deeds of the Hereafter. It is also said: they are the prayers. It is also said: they are "Glory be to Allah, praise be to Allah, there is no god but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest."

Meaning: they are {better in reward} than the boastings of the disbelievers, {and better in outcome}, meaning better in return and final consequence, or better in benefit. This is derived from their saying: "This matter has no maradd (return/recourse)," as in the verse: And will my weeping bring back a dead man?

If you ask: How can it be said "better in reward," as if their boastings had a reward, such that the reward of good deeds is made better than it?

I say: It is as if it were said: "Their reward is the Fire." This follows the style of the poet’s saying: So they were met with the sword (as a greeting). And his saying: Brave men, whom the camel-driver leads, chewing [the bit]... And his saying: Their greeting among them is a painful blow.

Then, he builds upon that "better in reward." In this, there is a type of sarcasm that is more infuriating to the one being threatened than simply saying to him: "Your punishment is the Fire."

If you ask: What is the aspect of comparison in "better" as if their boastings had a share in goodness?

I say: This is from the concise nature of their speech. They say: "Summer is hotter than winter," meaning: "It is more intense in its heat than winter is in its cold."

{Have you seen him who disbelieved in Our signs and said, "I will surely be given wealth and children"? Has he looked into the unseen, or has he taken from the Most Merciful a covenant? No! We will record what he says and extend for him the punishment extensively. And We will inherit from him what he mentions, and he will come to Us alone.}