Tafsir of Al-Mu'minoon 23:55

"Do they think that what We extend to them..."

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) is consoled by this, and forbidden from being hasty for their punishment or distressed by its delay.

It is recited: yamudduhum (He extends to them), yusari‘u (He hastens), and yusri‘u (He hastens), with the ya (referring to Allah, Glorified and Exalted). It is also permissible for yusari‘u and yusri‘u to contain a pronoun referring to that which is being extended, or to be in the passive voice.

The meaning is: This extension is nothing but a istidraj (luring them gradually) into disobedience and drawing them toward an increase in sin, while they think it is a hastening for them in good deeds, in that which brings them benefit and honor, and an acceleration of reward before its time. It is also possible that it refers to the reward of good deeds, as is done for the righteous among the Muslims.

"Nay, but they do not perceive" is a correction to His saying: "Do they think?" Meaning: Rather, they are like cattle, possessing neither intelligence nor perception to contemplate and reflect upon this: Is it a luring (istidraj), or a hastening in good?

If you ask: Where is the referent (raji‘) in the predicate of anna (that) for its subject, if the pronoun is not hidden within it? I say: It is omitted. The estimation is: nusari‘u bihi (We hasten with it), yusari‘u bihi (he hastens with it), and yusari‘u Allahu bihi (Allah hastens with it). Like His saying: "Indeed, that is of the matters [requiring] determination" (Ash-Shura: 43), meaning: minhu (from Him). This is done due to the length of the speech, while being secure from ambiguity.

"Indeed, those who are fearful from fear of their Lord, and those who believe in the signs of their Lord, and those who do not associate partners with their Lord, and those who give what they give while their hearts are fearful that they will be returning to their Lord—it is those who hasten to good deeds, and they are foremost in them."