Tafsir of Ash-Shu`ara' 26:215

When a bird intends to descend to land, it folds its wing and lowers it; when it intends to rise for flight, it raises its wing. Thus, the lowering of the wing upon descent is made a metaphor for humility and gentleness. From this is the saying of one of them:

And you are famous for lowering the wing, So do not be a falcon in raising it.

This forbids him from arrogance after humility.

If you ask: The followers of the Messenger are the believers, and the believers are the followers of the Messenger, so what is the meaning of His saying: "to those who follow you of the believers"?

I say: There are two aspects to this:

1. He calls them believers before they enter into faith because they are on the verge of it.
2. He intends by "the believers" those who affirm with their tongues. They are of two types: a type that affirmed and followed the Messenger of Allah in what he brought, and a type from whom nothing was found except mere affirmation. These are either hypocrites or sinners, and for the hypocrite and the sinner, the wing is not lowered.

The meaning is: "From the believers of your clan and others." It means: Warn your people; if they follow you and obey you, then lower your wing to them. If they disobey you and do not follow you, then disassociate yourself from them and from their deeds, such as associating partners with Allah and others.

{And rely upon the Exalted in Might, the Merciful, who sees you when you arise, and your movement among those who prostrate. Indeed, it is He who is the Hearing, the Knowing.}