Tafsir of Al-Furqan 25:63

{And the servants of the Most Merciful} This is a subject (mubtada’) whose predicate (khabar) is at the end of the surah. It is as if it were said: "And the servants of the Most Merciful who possess these qualities, they are the ones who will be rewarded with the highest chamber." It is also permissible for the predicate to be {who walk}. He attributed them to the "Most Merciful" (al-Raḥmān) as a form of specification and honor.

{who walk upon the earth} {hawnan} (gently/with humility) is a state (ḥāl) or a description of the walking, meaning: "being gentle," or "a gentle walk." Using the verbal noun (maṣdar) in place of the adjective serves as an intensifier. Al-hawn is gentleness and softness. From this is the Hadith: "Love your beloved moderately (hawnan mā)," and the saying: "The believers are gentle and soft," and the proverb: "If your brother is harsh, be gentle," meaning: if he is difficult, be easy.

The meaning is that they walk with tranquility, dignity, and humility; they do not strike the ground with their feet nor clatter with their sandals out of arrogance and vanity. For this reason, some scholars disliked riding in the marketplaces, citing the verse: {and they walk in the marketplaces} (25:20).

{and when the ignorant address them, they say: "Peace"} Meaning: "We seek safety from you, so we will not respond to your ignorance with ignorance." It is a disengagement where there is neither good nor evil between us. That is, "We seek safety from you," and the word "Peace" (salām) is used in place of the act of seeking safety (tasallum).

It is also said: They say a sound word through which they are safe from harm and sin. The "ignorance" (jahl) intended here is foolishness, lack of manners, and poor conduct, as in the verse: Let no one act ignorantly toward us, Lest we act with greater ignorance than the ignorant.

Regarding the view of Abū al-ʿĀliyah that this was abrogated by the verse of fighting (jihād): there is no need for that. Turning a blind eye to the foolish and refraining from retaliation is commendable in manners, chivalry, and the Law (Sharīʿah), and it is safer for one’s honor and piety.